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How did purple smoke appear in Maine skies? From 'Barbie' effect to 'Mainer pope', Internet has some hilarious reasons

'Target burning leftover pride merch.....' read a tweet

PORTLAND, MAINE: Maine became the site of an unusual and unsettling occurrence, as an enigmatic purple vapor enveloped the city's skyline, leaving residents in a state of confusion and indignation on Thursday and Friday. According to reports, the incident bore the characteristics of potentially hazardous pollution, evoking comparisons to a plot straight out of a supernatural horror tale.

The magenta vapor was initially spotted billowing from the smokestack at the Ecomaine waste energy plant on Thursday morning, leading to concerns about its source and potential health implications. Workers at the plant speculated that the vapor might have been caused by burning iodine, which raised further alarm among the public.

How did purple smoke appear in Maine skies?

Social media platforms were flooded with comments, with some drawing eerie connections to the works of renowned horror writer Stephen King, who often sets his stories in Maine. Alexander Hitchen, who captured photos of the eerie scene, tweeted, "Isn't this how @StephenKing books begin?" Ecomaine, responsible for the waste energy plant, asserted that the purple pollution was halted within a few hours on Thursday.

However, to the dismay of the local residents, it resurfaced on Friday. Ecomaine's CEO Kevin Roche said in a statement, "This was probably caused by a larger than normal amount of iodine present in the waste stream all at once. Fortunately, our plant employees were able to correct the situation in 2 ½ hours and get the plant back to normal operations. While vaporized iodine can pose health risks if directly inhaled, it is very unlikely anyone had direct exposure due to the relatively short time the incident occurred and its location."

While vaporized iodine can pose health risks if directly inhaled, the firm claimed that direct exposure was unlikely due to the relatively short duration of the incident and the vapor's location. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that iodine vapor can be an irritant and may cause stomach pain if inhaled or if it comes in contact with the skin. Long-term exposure can lead to a range of health issues, including insomnia, inflammation of the eyes and nose, bronchitis, tremors, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, and weight loss. Ecomaine, in cooperation with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, is actively investigating the cause and potential consequences of the purple vapor.

'Gender reveal at the power plant?'

Internet users expressed their fury regarding the purple vapor emanating from the smokestack at the Ecomaine waste energy plant. One user tweeted, "They’ve elected a new Mainer Pope." Another added, "If I were a Maine resident I would drop everything to head to this building and demand an answer haha." A third claimed, "Looks like poisonous gas." A user questioned, "Gender reveal at the power plant?" "Looks like the conclave has voted to do the Barbie sequel already," read a tweet. Another user added, "Target burning leftover pride merch....."