ONE died and 76 others were injured following an ammonia leak in an ice plant in Navotas City Wednesday afternoon, February 3, 2021.

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco identified the fatality as Gilbert Tiangco, 44, a worker of the ice plant.

He said 59 of the injured persons were brought to the Navotas City Hospital, while the others, which included six minors, were brought to Tondo General Hospital in Manila.

Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, Tiangco urged motorists to avoid North Boulevard and R-10 due to the hazardous ammonia leak from the T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage in the Barangay North Bay Boulevard South.

The incident prompted residents of the nearby community to evacuate.

Tiangco said he has ordered the temporary closure of the plant, which is owned by his mother's family. He apologized for the incident and assured to compensate the affected population.

"Sa ngayon po ay nasarado na ang valve na nagleak at hinihintay na lamang nating humupa ang amoy ng ammonia," Tiangco said in a radio interview.

"Tinatayang aabot ng 2-3 oras bago po humupa ang amoy sa lugar kaya nagpahanda na rin po tayo ng food packs sa ating CSWDO para sa mga apektadong residente," he added.

The local government has already distributed relief goods to the evacuees.

Tiangco said an investigation as to the cause of the leak is ongoing.

He said weeks ago, there was another ammonia leak in an ice plant on Lapu-lapu Avenue. (SunStar Philippines)