Navotas cold storage facility shut down after ammonia leak —mayor

The cold storage facility blamed for Monday evening's ammonia leak and fire incident in Navotas City has been shut down, Mayor John Rey Tiangco said Wednesday.

"Sinara na po natin 'yung cold storage pong 'yun para siguraduhin ng Bureau of Fire [and Protection] na tumupad sa sila sa mga safety protocols po," Tiangco said in an interview on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita.

(We shut down the cold storage facility so the Bureau of Fire and Protection can ensure that the establishment follows safety protocols.)

A 16-year-old victim died while 24 others were brought to two hospitals after experiencing difficulty in breathing following the ammonia leak and fire.

Tiangco said the deceased teenager was diagnosed with acute respiratory syndrome at the hospital.

He said the teenager had a comorbidity and had been experiencing difficulty in breathing as early as Monday morning. He said the ammonia leak probably aggravated the victim’s condition.

The other victims who fell ill have already been discharged from the hospitals, he said. Nevertheless, government doctors and health workers would keep on monitoring their health at home, he added.

According to Tiangco, the management of the cold storage facility has been coordinating with local government authorities to assist the victims.

Tiangco said they would look into more ways to avoid such an incident in the future. —KBK, GMA Integrated News