300 families evacuated due to ammonia leak at QC ice plant

Some 300 families were evacuated from their homes on Sunday night after ammonia reportedly leaked at an ice plant near their neighborhood. Radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported on Monday that firefighters investigated the incident at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday after many families complained of a foul smell coming from the ice plant compound Ramon Magsaysay village, Bagong Bantay, Quezon City. Several residents reportedly complained of vomiting, cold-like symptoms, and eye irritation, the dzBB report said. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) assisted village officials in evacuating the families whose houses were within a 350-foot radius around plant. A team managed to place the leak under control at 10:45 p.m. on Sunday. Metro Manila fire marshal Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna said the foul smell may have been caused by the leakage of ammonia used as a refrigerant in the ice plant Laguna said the residents will stay at the covered court for at least 12 hours until the smell of ammonia is gone. However, according to the dzBB report, as of 7 a.m., some of the families have already started returning to their homes. The report said Laguna will invite the owners of the ice plant for questioning because of Sunday night's incident. – VVP, GMA News