Atlanta issues warnings about chemical plant fire with smoke visible miles away

Interstate highway shut down in both directions in the area, as residents urged to evacuate or shelter in place

Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated while others were told to shelter in place on Sunday to avoid contaminants from a chemical plant fire that sent a huge tower of dark smoke into the air that could be seen from miles away.

Interstate 20 was shut down in both directions in the area, the Georgia department of transportation said in a post on X. Reports said traffic was snarled as vehicles backed up.