A LONE individual was reported dead as 16 people were rushed to the hospital after residents from two barangays were evacuated despite the heavy rains due to a reported ammonia leak in an ice plant in Navotas City early morning of Tuesday.
The Navotas City Police Tactical Operation Center (TOC) reported that they received information regarding the death of Edwin Dela Vina, 49 years old, and a resident of Ilang-Ilang Street, Brgy. NBBS-Kaunlaran, who experienced difficulty in breathing due to foul smell coming from the ammonia leak that happened around 2:50 a.m. at the Magsimpan Ice Plant located along M. Naval St., Brgy. NBBS Kaunlaran, Navotas city.
However, the victim’s younger brother Ralph, 43 years old, told the police that his brother was brought to the Navotas City Hospital due to chronic heart enlargement. According to the attending physician, the victim died of Acute Coronary Syndrome.
ln a report that reached the office of Navotas police chief P/Col. Dexter Ollaging, a strong foul smell was noticed by employers of the ice plant while they were working in their respective areas.
The employees immediately left from the company premises and for assistance from police on patrol.
The smell from the ammonia reached Brgy. North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) Kaunlaran and NBBS Proper, prompting residents to leave their homes and covered their mouths and noses.
The police immediately responded and personnel from the Navotas Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) under F/Insp. Pedrito Polo and three BFP fire trucks went to the area to investigate the cause of the ammonia leak.
In a report by the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), the ammonia leak stopped at around 4 am while people residing in the area were rushed to the Navotas City Hospital for difficulty in breathing.
The local government of the City of Navotas immediately ordered the temporary suspension of operations of the Magsimpan Ice Plant to assure the safety of all employees and residents in nearby areas.
According to the DRRMO, the Magsimpan Ice Plant has been operational for the past 10 years and despite the continued safety checks implemented by the BFP and the city government of Navotas, the ice plant already had ammonia leaks two times already, one was last year and this latest incident.
The Navotas City Health Office said that liquid ammonia, being used as refrigerant or coolant to make purified tube ice, is dangerous for people directly exposed to it in large quantities, and may bring about other complications such as blindness, dryness of throat, and difficulty in breathing that may cause death.