MANILA, Philippines — Twelve workers were evacuated from an ice plant in Navotas City following an ammonia leak before dawn on Wednesday.
According to one of the employees, the leak originated from the compressor room of the ice plant.
The Bureau of Fire Protection responded to the incident and immediately closed the valve to stop the leak.
Due to strong and harmful odor emanating from the ammonia leak, which also spilled onto the roadside, authorities closed the affected road for safety reasons.
Von Villanueva, head of Navotas City’s disaster risk reduction and management office, ordered the closure of 168 Tube Ice Cold Storage facility while an investigation is ongoing.
“As long as the facility does not comply with the requirements set by city hall and the BFP, it will remain closed,” Villanueva said.
He said strict inspections and safety protocols would be enforced in all 26 cold storage facilities in Navotas.
On June 20, an ammonia leak caused a fire at the Icy Point Cold Storage facility in Barangay NBBS. One person died and 23 others were hospitalized due to the incident.