Ammonia leak halts classes in Taguig; incident promptly contained

AMMONIA LEAK. The area leading to an ice plant along M. L. Quezon Street, Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig City is cordoned off on Monday (Sept. 25, 2023). An ammonia leak at the ice plant prompted the suspension of classes at the nearby Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School. (Photo: I Love Taguig/Facebook)

MANILA – The city government of Taguig has suspended classes at the Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School on Monday following an ammonia leak from an ice plant in the area.

In a statement, the city government said the Taguig City Rescue and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) immediately responded to the report regarding the incident after classes at the school were suspended at 8 a.m.

It added that roads leading to the affected area were promptly blocked to prevent people from approaching the site.

The Taguig Rescue, BFP National Capital Region, and the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team are presently conducting an investigation, assessing the ammonia levels, and monitoring wind direction in the area.

The local government also established an incident command post at the medical bay in front of the school manned by personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, PNP, and the Incident Command Team. This post is responsible for providing real-time updates on the situation in the affected areas of the ammonia leak.

As of 9 a.m., the BFP has declared that the ammonia leak has been successfully contained.

All barangays in Taguig have been put on alert for possible ambulance assistance equipped with medical oxygen in response to the incident.

Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare and Development Office assisted affected residents in relocating to the designated evacuation site at the Hagonoy Gymnasium.