RANDOLPH, Minn. - Emergency government officials have evacuated a small city in eastern Minnesota because of an industrial ammonia spill Wednesday.

Dakota County emergency preparedness coordinator David Gisch says about 400 residents of Randolph were evacuated to a nearby fire station. Students from the school complex were sent to a church outside the city. Gisch says about a dozen students were taken to area hospitals after experiencing some signs of exposure Also, Gisch says an elderly woman became ill and was transported for treatment.

Gisch says anhydrous ammonia spilled at local grain elevator when a line ruptured as the ammonia was being transferred from a semi to a storage tank. Gisch says ammonia can cause respiratory injuries.

City Clerk Sheila Ekstrom says residents were notified of the spill by a robocall from emergency managers.

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