At least six people have been killed and a dozen have been hospitalized following a liquid nitrogen leak at a poultry farm in the US state of Georgia on Thursday.

The incident happened about 100 kilometers North-East from Atlanta in Gaines at the Foundation Food Group Plant. Five people died at the Plant while the other died in the emergency room.

At least three of the hospitalized are reported to be in a critical condition. The injured included four firefighters who suffered respiratory ailments.

According to the officials, about 130 other people were evacuated from the plant to a nearby church.  

Zach Brackett, a Hall County Fire Services spokesman said that the incident happened at about 10 a.m. EST on Thursday.

Nitrogen, inert at normal temperatures, turns liquid at about minus 320-degree-Fahrenheit and is widely used in frozen food plants.

The Gainesville plant became part of the Foundation Food Group only on January 1 this year. The Plant processes raw chicken into the products like chicken fingers, individual chicken cuts for restaurants, and Food Service Operations.

Two Workers at a Golden West Food Plant in Los Angeles following a liquid Nitrogen leak last month.