Ammonia leak at Cadbury's factory

Staff have been evacuated from the building. Photo / Otago Daily Times / Christine O'Connor

Dozens of workers have been evacuated after a chemical spill at Dunedin's Cadbury factory early this afternoon.

Alarms at the building began sounding just before 1.30pm.

Cumberland and Castle St have been closed from St Andrew St to Stuart St, and Anzac Ave is also closed.

Cadbury's factory and Cadbury World have been evacuated, as have other Castle St businesses.

Firefighters were seen in hazmat suits and a fire command unit is at the scene.

An evacuated worker told the Otago Daily Times that firefighters told them to get out because of a "major ammonia leak".

Police and ambulance staff are also at the scene.

A St John's spokesman said staff are not currently treating anyone and are there as a precaution.

Earlier today, the Fire Service responded to an ammonia leak in West Auckland.

Eleven fire crews, as well as support vehicles, were called to a mussel factory in Henderson.

The leak is believed to be coming from a vessel that contained 300kg of ammonia, a Fire Service spokeswoman said.

The factory is on Corban Ave, and a staffer at the factory alerted the Fire Service to the leak at 4.45am.