Quezon City probes alleged ammonia leak in ice plant

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government is investigating a reported ammonia leak at an ice plant in Barangay San Antonio on Thursday morning.

In a statement yesterday, the city government said it immediately deployed personnel to assist the evacuation of at least a dozen workers.

“Members of the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Bureau of Fire Protection assisted in ensuring the safety of employees in the area,” it said in Filipino.

“We are also conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the possible leak and find ways to ensure that this will not happen again in the future,” it added.

No one was reported injured or was hospitalized due to the leak, reports said.

Under the City Comprehensive Zoning Code of 2016, the plant is in a low-intensity industrial zone and is allowed to manufacture “ice, ice blocks, cubes, tubes, crushed, except dry ice.”

The city health department advised residents to avoid the area to prevent exposure to ammonia.

It also urged those who were exposed to go to the nearest hospital if they experience symptoms such as cough; abdominal pain; blistering of skin; burning sensation in the nose, throat, lungs and eyes; difficulty of breathing and nausea.