40 hospitalized due to ammonia leak in Cavite

At least 40 people were hospitalized following an ammonia gas leak in an ice factory in Carmona, Cavite.

In a report on News To Go on Wednesday, Chairperson Tommel Peneyra of the Cavite Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office said the gas leak inside the Golden Mile Business Park was already capped by 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The gas leak came from the Polytrade Company, an ice plant inside the business compound. According to the company, the ammonia gas seeped through one of their condensers.

The people exposed to the gas reported eye irritations, stomach pains, breathing difficulties and nausea.

Ammonia, which can be used to treat nausea in small amounts, poses great health risk in much higher concentrations, Peneyra said.

However, Peneyra assured that the incident brought about only mild effects to the people exposed to the gas.

As of posting time, two of the patients were still under observation while others have been discharged.

The Polytrade Company said in a statement that the leak came from the condenser inside the factory.

The local government has advised nearby factories to temporarily stop operations and vacate the establishments to prevent further exposure to the ammonia fumes. Workers around the business area are told to wear facemasks.

Authorities, meanwhile, also ordered Polytrade Company to shut down operations until pending investigations. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KG/ALG, GMA News