Eight people were rushed to a hospital on Friday afternoon, Jan. 27, due to a chlorine leak in a gas warehouse in Brgy. Tinajeros, Malabon City.
The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the five children and three adults were brought to Ospital ng Malabon due to breathing problems.
First responders initially reported an ammonia leak due to the intense odor, however, the Bureau of Fire Protection determined that the chemical involved was chlorine after conducting tests.
“May water po kasing stagnant sa warehouse na ‘to, nagpositive naman po siya sa chlorine,” Malabon BFP Operating Chief Capt. Jezreel Malapit said.
“Ang initial investigation natin is talagang ‘yung tubig pero hindi po natin alam kung paano nagkaroon ng chlorine po ‘yung water. So ngayon under investigation pa rin po sya,” he added.
The BFP temporarily covered the leak with sand to reduce the odor that was affecting nearby residents.
Approximately 300 residents were asked to evacuate, but they were allowed to return to their homes afterwards.
The warehouse is reportedly owned by Jovares Oxygen and Gas, a distributor of liquefied petroleum gas and oxygen tanks.
The BFP was informed that the warehouse was last utilized as a gas station nearly 30 years ago.
Authorities are investigating whether or not it has any relation to the leak incident. –With report from Gillian Geronimo/KC-ag
