Hundreds of bottling plant workers evacuated due to ammonia gas leak

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Hundreds of workers at the Femsa-Coca Cola bottling plant in Barangay Tetuan here were evacuated on Friday during an ammonia gas leak incident.

Elmer Apolinario, the city disaster risk reduction and management officer, told the Inquirer that it was about 8 a.m. when a canister containing ammonia gas leaked.

One worker, identified as 54-year-old Sergio Ventura, had to be rushed to a hospital after he suffered difficulty in breathing due to inhalation of the gas.

Apolinario said Ventura also suffered chest pains, elevated blood pressure, eye irritation and redness due to exposure to the gas.

Fire Chief Inspector Clint Cha, of the Bureau of Fire in Zamboanga, said the responding fire fighters were eventually able to contain the ammonia leak.

Cha said they were investigating as to what triggered the gas leak. JPV