Ammonia gas leak downs 23 people in Cavite

At least 23 people were hospitalized following an ammonia gas leak in an ice factory in Carmona, Cavite.

A report on News To Go on Wednesday quoted Tommel Peneyra of the Cavite Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as saying that the gas leak inside the Golden Mile Business Park was already contained by 7 a.m.

The people exposed to the gas reported a pungent smell in the air before experiencing eye irritations, stomach pains, breathing difficulties and nausea.

High concentration of ammonia, which can be used to treat nausea in small amounts, poses great health risk, Peneyra said.

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

The local government has advised nearby factories to shut down their operations and vacate the establishment to prevent further exposure to the ammonia fumes.

The report said workers around the business area were told to wear facemasks.

A statement made by Polytrade Company said the leak was traced to the condenser inside the ice plant.

Authorities have ordered the company to shut down its operations until a more conclusive findings are yielded from the investigation.

Meanwhile, some patients exposed to the gas have already been discharged from the hospital but remained under observation. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KBK, GMA News