40-year-old tank blamed for deadly Navotas ammonia leak

Investigators of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) have pointed to a 40-year-old tank as the cause of the ammonia leak that killed two persons in Navotas City last week.

According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras,” post-blast investigators identified the cause of the leak once they entered the T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant.

“Doon sa upper parts ng nurse tank, doon sa may pressure relief valve. So we need to identify kung nagkaroon ng problema doon sa pressure relief valve,” Fire Chief Inspector Bayani Zambrano, chief of the Fire Arson Investigating Division, said.

“According to the statement of the witness… nasa more than 40 years na ‘yung tanke. Ang napansin namin is ‘yung tanke is exposed sa labas. Exposed siya sa kung saan naiinitan din siya,” he added.

The BFP has disregarded the possibility of welding works beside the tank, leading it to heat up and further increase the pressure of ammonia inside the tank.

Meanwhile, the swab of the tank contents will also be examined to find out if they are purely ammonia.

The BFP will also place the evidence gathered under a metallurgic examination to determine the wear and tear of the metal.

Results of the final investigation are expected to be released next week.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News