No one was reported injured or taken to hospital following an ammonia leak at a cold storage facility in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan city, Wednesday night.
At around 7:30 pm, white smoke was seen evaporating from the Orca Cold Solution building on Tanigue Street in Barangay 14.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the guard initially thought there was a fire but found out that it was an ammonia leak.
Workers in the building were immediately evacuated.
Firefighters responded before 8 p.m. The main and secondary valves that pass through the toxic chemical are turned off.
It was declared contained or stopped by 8:31 or after half an hour.
The leak was detected in a secondary valve outside the 2nd floor of the three-story building.
According to BFP, the storage facility has not yet opened because it is still in the testing and commissioning stage.
The workers were allowed to return but were told to avoid the part affected by the leak.
It is still being investigated how the facility leaked, such as if the valve loosened.
Ammonia leaks at cold storage facility in Caloocan
The Safety Enforcement Unit of the Caloocan fire station will conduct an inspection there this Thursday.
In February, 2 workers of an ice plant in Navotas City died, and 90 people were hospitalized following an ammonia leak at the plant.
Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco said Thursday the ice plant owned by his relatives should shoulder the assistance of the residents affected by the ammonia leak.
In an interview on Unang Balita, Tiangco said funds from the fund of Navotas local government should not be used in assisting those affected, including those wounded and hospitalized.
“Hindi naman po sa ayaw ng lokal na pamahalaan na tumulong kaya lang itong pangyayaring ito ay posed by a private company na nagkataon ay pamilya ko. So pangit naman na gastusin ang pera ng gobyerno dahil ang pinsala ay nanggaling sa kumpanya na pag-aari ng pamilya ng nanay ko so they will have to pay for everything,” Tiangco said.
In May, an ice plant in Parañaque also leaked, but no one was hurt.
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