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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A chlorine leak at a DOW plant near Baton Rouge has forced the evacuation of the plant.

WBRZ reports the evacuations began shortly after 3 p.m., and callers reported a strong odor in the area.

Louisiana Highway 1 was closed and only emergency vehicles were allowed to go beyond the highway closure, according to WBRZ.

Video from WBRZ’s tower cam nearly 700 feet over Old South Baton Rouge showed a large plume of smoke from the area around DOW southwest of Baton Rouge on the other side of the river.