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Tekamah residents still not allowed to return home after ammonia leak

Posted at 5:05 PM, Oct 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-18 18:38:47-04

Magellan officials say Tekamah residents still cannot return home after a man was killed following an ammonia leak overnight.

Officials say in cooperation with local emergency response personnel and state and federal regulatory agencies, is continuing to isolate and secure the 8” pipeline involved in Monday night’s ammonia release.

Officials say the air quality monitoring at the release site and the surrounding area remains underway.

"While air quality is improving, current readings will not allow local residents to return home just yet," officials said in a statement. 

Officials said their immediate focus is to eliminate ammonia emissions, safely secure the site and reopen the local roads. 

They added that all operations of the ammonia pipeline will remain suspended until all repairs can be safely made.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

23 homes were evacuated Monday night which included approximately 40 local residents.

Magellan says their representatives are currently working with affected residents to cover all relevant expenses associated with the evacuation with the intent of returning the residents to their homes as soon as possible.

“We express our deepest sympathies over the tragic death of the local resident last night,” said Mike Mears, Magellan’s chief executive officer.