Photo from BFP PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Some residents in Navotas City were urged to leave their homes and seek temporary shelter at evacuation centers after an ice plant along North Bay Boulevard sprang a leak, Mayor Toby Tiangco said.
The ammonia vapors released from the plant are toxic to humans.
“Please avoid North Blvd [Boulevard] and R-10, may ammonia leak from T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage. Nanduon na po BFP [Bureau of Fire Protection] and mga ambulance natin. sa mga residente pls evacuate,” said Tiangco in a tweet.
(BFP and ambulance are on site. Residents, please evacuate.)
Please avoid North Blvd and R-10, may ammonia leak from T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage. Nanduon na po BFP and mga ambulance natin. sa mga residente pls evacuate
— Toby Tiangco (@TobyTiangco) February 3, 2021
In a separate interview with dzBB, Tiangco said, for now, they would prioritize the evacuation while authorities are investigating what caused the leak.
“Mapaalis muna ang residente and then mahinto yung leak. As soon as maalis ang residente, ichecheck ang ice plant kung nasara ang leak,” he said.
(We need the residents to leave and then we stop the leak. Once they evacuate, authorities will check if the leak has stopped.)
He said the residents would be sent to designated evacuation centers while the BFP addresses the leak.
No one was hurt in the incident, Tiangco added.
As of posting, Tiangco said the leak is already under control.
Tiangco’s mother owns the ice plant
Tiangco, meanwhile, revealed that the ice plant that caused the chemical leak was owned by his mother.
“I have to disclose na yung ice plant ay kumpanya ng mother ko […] Matagal na yan, kasi bata pa ako nandiyan na yung cold storage na iyan,” he said.
(The ice plant is owned by my mom. It is already old, the cold storage is already existing since I was a kid.)
The mayor also assured the public that he ordered a closure order on the ice plant.
“Ako nagsabi sa BPLO [Bureau of Permits and Licensing Office] na lagyan ninyo agad ng closure order,” he said.
(I asked the BPLO to place a closure order.)
Likewise, the mayor apologized to residents for the trouble that the incident had caused them.
“Ako ay humihingi sa kababayan sa perwisyo ng nadulot, of course, na kumpanya yan ng mother ko, ako ang hihingi ng dispensa sa inyo. Kung may naospital we will make sure at I’m sure willing naman sila makipagtulungan sa pamahalaan,” Tiangco pointed out.
(I am sorry for the trouble this incident caused you. If anyone gets hospitalized, we will make sure and I am sure that my family is willing to coordinate with the city government.)
READ: Ammonia leak sends Olongapo high school students to hospital
ac