The Quezon City government said on Friday, Dec. 29, that it will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the ammonia leak at a one-storey ice plant on Roosevelt Avenue, Barangay San Antonio that forced its employees to evacuate the facility on Thursday, Dec. 28.
The incident was reported to the Quezon City Fire District (QCFD) at around 11:07 a.m. which prompted it to deploy personnel in the area. Local government personnel also responded to help in the operation and ensure the safety of the employees.
The QCFD said that the ice plant employees as well as workers from neighboring establishments were evacuated to prevent them from inhaling the chemical. No one was reported hurt or hospitalized in the incident.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said its personnel are still determining the cause of the ammonia leak which originated from a receiver tank at the ice plant.
The city government said an investigation will be conducted to also determine the steps on how to prevent such incidents from happening again.
"Base sa Quezon City Comprehensive Zoning Code of 2016, ang planta ay nasa ilalim ng Low Intensity Industrial Zone. Sa Section 21 ng nasabing Code, pinapahintulutan ang “manufacturing of ice, ice blocks, cubes, tubes, crushed, except dry ice," it added.
It also advised the residents to stay away from the ice plant to avoid inhaling the chemicals that have spread in the area.
It also encouraged those who experience symptoms of inhalation of ammonia such as coughing, abdominal pain, blistering of skin, burning sensation on the nose, throat, lungs, and eyes, difficulty in breathing, and nausea to visit the nearest hospital in their area.
"Makakaasa ang lahat ng QCitizens na tututukan ng lokal na pamahalaan ang nasabing insidente para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng lahat (QCitizens are assured that the local government will focus on the incident to ensure everyone's safety)," the local government added.