Another worker dies in Navotas ice plant ammonia leak

MANILA – Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco on Thursday reported another casualty in the ammonia leak incident at the TP Marcelo Ice Plant, raising the death toll to two.

He identified the second fatality as Joselito Jazareno, 54, an electrician at the cold storage facility. His body was found near the surge tank that exploded inside the plant on Wednesday afternoon.

As of 5 a.m. Thursday, a total of 96 people have been hospitalized due to the chemical spill, including the first fatality, Mr. Gilbert Tiangco, who was first brought to Navotas City Hospital.

“Lahat po ng medical expenses ng mga pamilyang apektado ay babalikatin ng kompanya (All medical expenses of those affected will be shouldered by the company,” Tiangco said in a social media post.

He earlier said the facility was run by his mother’s family.

While the ammonia leak at the ice plant has been contained, Tiangco said it will be closed off indefinitely until it fully carried out the safety measures recommended by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The city government, meanwhile, will provide counseling to the residents who were affected and earlier evacuated due to the incident.

“Ipapa-check din po natin sa BFP at Sanitation Officers ang iba pang mga ice plant at cold storage sa lungsod kaugnay ng kanilang Occupational Safety Standards and Environmental Compliances (We will also ask the BFP and sanitation officers to check the other ice plant and cold storage in the city to ensure their occupational safety standards and environmental compliances),” Tiangco said.

This is the second time that an ammonia leak incident occurred in Navotas this year, according to the BFP.