1 dead, 22 hospitalized as ammonia leak, fire hit ice plant in Navotas
A minor died while 22 others were rushed to the hospitals after an ammonia leak and a subsequent fire were reported to have hit an ice plant on M. Naval Street, Barangay NBBN, in Navotas City early Tuesday morning, June 20.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the blaze at the Icy Point Cold Storage, Barangay NBBN was raised to the first alarm at around 12:06 a.m. It escalated to the third alarm at around 12:33 a.m.
It was declared under control at around 1:37 a.m. and was extinguished at around 1:57 a.m.
Before the fire, an ammonia leak incident in the ice plant was reported at around 11:07 a.m. on Monday, June 19, causing some residents to be rushed to a hospital after inhaling the gas.
The Navotas City government said the victims were rushed to the Navotas City Hospital (NCH) and Tondo Medical Center (TMC).
It added that the 16-year-old victim was brought to Manila Central University Hospital but was later declared dead.
The Navotas City Fire Station said the number of families affected by the fire is still being determined by authorities.
It added that the control valve in the ice plant where the ammonia leak originated from was closed at around 1:42 a.m.
The amount of damage to property and the cause of the fire are still being investigated by arson probers.
“We have ordered the temporary closure of Icy Point Cold Storage pending investigation that will be conducted jointly by BFP-Navotas, City Health Office, Sanidad, City Environment & Natural Resources Office, and Business Permits and Licensing Office,” the city government said.
“We have also deployed health workers and placed an ambulance on standby to provide immediate medical care, if needed,” it added.
It also said that as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, only two patients remained at NCH.