Ammonia leak reported at Batangas ice plant

Local authorities in Batangas on Thursday found that the foul smell residents were complaining about was ammonia leaked from an ice plant in Lian.

According to a “24 Oras” report, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Batangas received complaints from Barangay Kapito residents on Wednesday about a foul smell emanating from a factory.

When authorities visited the site the following day, they discovered that a drum containing ammonia had leaked.

The area was immediately doused with water.

However, the ice plant staff disposed of the ammonia by pouring it into a rainwater canal, causing plants in the neighboring creek to wither and fish to die.

The DENR said it might file charges against the ice plant for violating the Clean Water Act.

The ice plant has not yet issued a statement on the incident.

On Wednesday, two people died in Navotas City after a similar ice plant ammonia leak.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News