Chemical leak reported as tanker breaks down in Manila City

A chemical leak was reported after a tanker broke down on Quirino Avenue in Manila City on Sunday morning.

According to the Manila Special Rescue Force, the tanker contained 3,000 liters of hydrochloric acid or muriatic acid.

"Ang tumagas po ay hydrochloric acid... Safe ito 'pag hindi concentrated. 'Pag concentrated, nainitan, mag-evaporate ito at masakit sa mata at ilong... 'Pag dumikit sa balat natin, mangangati," the Manila Special Rescue Force said in an interview with Mao dela Cruz on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The gas that leaked is hydrochloric acid. This is safe if not concentrated. When it is concentrated and heated, it will evaporate and will affect the eyes and nose. When it touches the skin, it will cause itchiness.)

UPDATE: Pagtagas ng hydrochloric acid mula sa sumadsad na tanker sa Quirino Avenue (NB) corner Pedro Gil Street sa Maynila, kontrolado na ng Manila Special Rescue Force. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/8Ft1Npgao7

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 3, 2024

The Manila Special Rescue Force said the chemical tanker contained a concentrated form of hydrochloric acid.

Since the accident area was near a drainage, authorities diluted the chemical so as to make it less concentrated and less harmful.

No residents were evacuated as the accident area was far from houses. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) did not report any casualties as of posting time.

The northbound lane of Quirino Avenue from Osmeña Highway to Pedro Gil Street was thus temporarily closed to traffic, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

GMA Integrated News Bulletin later reported in its Sunday morning bulletin that closures on Quirino Avenue have been lifted.

According to the MMDA, the chemical tanker's chassis broke. This resulted in a gas leak and smoke was emitted.

Senior Inspector Charles Bococo of the Manila Special Rescue Force told Super Radyo dzBB that as per initial assessment, the truck's speed and the bumps along Quirino Avenue may have been factors as to why the vehicle broke down.

An MMDA rescue ambulance as well as two firetrucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection Manila were on site to assist the driver of the chemical tanker.

Traffic has slowed down in the area due to the incident. —KG/VDV, GMA Integrated News