​1 dead in ammonia leak at Boston seafood warehouse

BOSTON -- One person was killed in an ammonia leak at a seafood warehouse in Boston's Seaport District, CBS Boston station WBZ reported.

Officials said the leak at Stavis Seafoods Warehouse was reported around 6 p.m. Wednesday, at the end of the shift for workers. Employees began noticing a strong odor and saw a leak coming from the plant, fire officials said.

The victim, identified only as an adult male, was found in a stairwell. Emergency responders were initially unable to reach him because of the strong fumes, the Boston Fire Department said.

Four other workers were able to escape.

The leak prompted a Level 3 Hazmat response and firefighters wore fully encapsulated suits when they entered the building.

The ammonia, which is used as a refrigerant, was leaking from a 5,400-pound tank, fire officials said. They didn't know how much had escaped before the main valve was shut off and the leak stopped, which took several hours.

The cause of the leak was unknown. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans says homicide detectives and OSHA are investigating the incident. The medical examiner will determine the victim's cause of death.

In a statement, Stavis Seafoods said they were "devastated" and they were working with authorities to understand what happened.

Several nearby streets were closed off and police asked people to stay away from the area while the operation was underway.