Ammonia leak downs girl; 255 others evacuated

MANILA, Philippines - A girl fell ill while more than 200 residents were evacuated from their houses following an ammonia leak at an ice plant in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Geraldine Oropesa, nine, was brought to the Quezon City General Hospital after she complained of eye irritation and difficulty breathing. She was among the 256 residents affected by the ammonia leak that occurred at Barangay Sta. Cruz.

The other residents were evacuated to prevent more persons from falling ill because of the ammonia fumes. They were temporarily brought to the village hall.

Barangay Sta. Cruz chairman Ernesto Baetiong said the leak happened before 10 a.m. yesterday at the Genuino Ice Plant. The leak was found to have come from a broken ammonia valve.

According to the village officials, the ice plant had been closed for four days because equipment had broken down. Firemen arrived and doused the ice plant with water to wash out the ammonia fumes.

As of 1 p.m. yesterday, village officials declared that the leak had been contained and told residents to go back to their homes.

Retired general Elmo San Diego, head of the city government’s department of public order and safety, said the plant would be inspected to see if there was any liability on the part of its officials.