Ammonia leak in Navotas could be due to negligence —BFP

Authorities said the ammonia leak in a cold storage facility that later caught fire in Navotas City may have been due to negligence in maintenance.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," the Bureau of Fire Protection's (BFP) initial investigation showed that the ammonia filter may have caused the leak.

There were also signs that the filter has been affected corrosion, the bureau added.

“Nag-fail yung filter hindi na napalitan at yun yung pinagsimulan ng leak, baka hindi nila napalitan yung kanilang filter regularly perhaps may negligence on their part,” Navotas Fire Marshal Jude delos Reyes said. 

Meanwhile, twenty-four residents who live near the plant have returned home from the hospital, including 11-year-old Frederick Cunanan.

“Nahihilo po tapos nasusuka, nahihirapan po ako huminga,” he said.

Since 2021, four incidents of ammonia leaks have occurred in Navotas City.

Three plants have remained closed for failure to comply with the requirements of the local government and BFP.

In February 2021, over a hundred were injured or taken to the hospital, while two died.

“Kung naging mahigpit po kami after ng mga naunang insidente mas dodoblehin ho namin ang paghihigpit. Pipilitin natin ang ating Bureau of Fire Protection na mag-regular inspection checking,” Navotas CDRRMO chief Vonne Villanueva said.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News