Residents evacuated due to alleged ammonia leak from ice plant

MANILA, Philippines—Around 100 families were evacuated Sunday night following an alleged ammonia leak at an ice plant in Quezon City.

Due to the incident, the VCNC ice plant on 78 Bukidnon St., Barangay (village) Magsaysay was temporarily shut to contain the alleged leak, according to Superintendent 0Audie Madrideo of the Masambong police station.

The leak allegedly happened at around 8:45 p.m. Sunday after some residents near the ice plant started to experience eye irritation, difficulty in breathing and nausea.

Madrideo said other residents suffered brief colds after inhaling the chemical allegedly emitted by the ice plant.

To ensure the residents’ safety, those living within a 330-foott radius of the ice plant were evacuated and temporarily sheltered at a nearby basketball court, the police official said.

“Inspectors from the police, Bureau of Fire Protection and City Hall have been conducting inspections at the plant…,” the police official said.

Madrideo said the ammonia was being used as a “refrigerant” at the ice plant, adding that the chemical was not particularly dangerous but could still cause difficulty in breathing.

He added that they are still studying whether to file a complaint against the ice plant reportedly owned by a certain Victor Resureccion.

“Authorities will be looking into the business permit of the plant as well as its location since it is situated in a residential area,” Madrideo said.

He also noted that no one among the affected residents have filed a complaint against the ice plant, which reportedly has been operating 24 hours a day for four years now.

The residents soon returned to their homes early Monday after plant personnel reportedly traced the leak and sealed it at around 10:45 p.m. Sunday.

Madrideo said plant personnel told police that two valve shafts had started leaking ammonia and that the shafts were due for maintenance work because of prolonged use. –Julie M. Aurelio, Philippine Daily Inquirer