MANILA, Philippines – One person is confirmed dead while at least 60 others were rushed to the hospital over an ammonia leak at a cold storage facility in Navotas on Wednesday afternoon, February 3.
The incident happened at T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage, a facility confirmed to be owned by the family of Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco. The mayor has announced the incident and advised the public to avoid North Boulevard and R-10 Road until the chemical leak is contained.
“First I would disclose.. 'yan po ang pagmamay-ari ng isang korporasyon na mother ko ang isa sa mga may-ari... namana nila 'yan sa lolo ko,” the mayor announced, also apologizing for the incident.
He added that even if the company is owned by a family member, he will make sure that the owners will be made accountable.
“Dahil kumpanya 'yan ng mother ko, ako na po ang humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyari. But we will make sure, kahit kumpanya po 'yan ng kamag-anak ko, sisiguraduhin po natin na kung ano 'yung dapat... dapat mas una sila,” Tiangco added.
The mayor said that he was informed about the accident at the facility at 4:19PM. He quickly made sure to announce the evacuation to keep the residents from inhaling the leaked ammonia. However, the evacuation order was faced with some resistance from the residents, but the local authorities are trying their best to get everyone out of the area as soon as possible.
“Masakit daw sa ilong... kapag malapit sa lugar. The first thing they had to do was ilikas ang mga residente to make sure they are safe. Then pumasok 'yung BFP,” he explained.
Kahit 'yung mga ayaw umalis, sinabihan na umalis na... 'Yung likod po noon ay... high-density (residential area.) 'Yung buong area na 'yun is densely populated.”
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
The incident happened at T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage, a facility confirmed to be owned by the family of Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco. The mayor has announced the incident and advised the public to avoid North Boulevard and R-10 Road until the chemical leak is contained.
“First I would disclose.. 'yan po ang pagmamay-ari ng isang korporasyon na mother ko ang isa sa mga may-ari... namana nila 'yan sa lolo ko,” the mayor announced, also apologizing for the incident.
He added that even if the company is owned by a family member, he will make sure that the owners will be made accountable.
“Dahil kumpanya 'yan ng mother ko, ako na po ang humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyari. But we will make sure, kahit kumpanya po 'yan ng kamag-anak ko, sisiguraduhin po natin na kung ano 'yung dapat... dapat mas una sila,” Tiangco added.
Firemen cordon off and clear the area after an ammonia leak from the T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage in Navotas on Wednesday. (Contributed Photos)
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) February 3, 2021
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The mayor said that he was informed about the accident at the facility at 4:19PM. He quickly made sure to announce the evacuation to keep the residents from inhaling the leaked ammonia. However, the evacuation order was faced with some resistance from the residents, but the local authorities are trying their best to get everyone out of the area as soon as possible.
“Masakit daw sa ilong... kapag malapit sa lugar. The first thing they had to do was ilikas ang mga residente to make sure they are safe. Then pumasok 'yung BFP,” he explained.
Kahit 'yung mga ayaw umalis, sinabihan na umalis na... 'Yung likod po noon ay... high-density (residential area.) 'Yung buong area na 'yun is densely populated.”
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
