Ammonia leak sends Olongapo high school students to hospital

A student of Olongapo City National High School experienced breathing difficulties and nausea due to the ammonia leak that was traced to an ice plant. PHOTO/Joanna Aglibot, Inquirer Northern Luzon

OLONGAPO CITY – An ammonia gas leak sent 57 students of the Olongapo City National High School (OCNHS) here to a hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

The gas may have emanated from an ice plant near the school. According to witnesses, the gas spread when an ice plant worker opened the gate valve of an ammonia compressor.

Emergency responders said students complained of breathing difficulties and nausea, and were brought to the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital for treatment. Other students were also treated for injuries they allegedly suffered in a stampede.

The panic subsided by 5 p.m. with the help of personnel of the local disaster risk reduction and management office.

Mayor Rolen Paulino, who responded to the scene, said the city government will provide medical and financial assistance to the injured students.

Paulino also suspended classes on Wednesday to give workers time to clean up the school.