KUALA LUMPUR – An ice factory in Taman Perindustrian Jaya, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, and the area surrounding it were closed to the public following an ammonia gas leak at its premises yesterday.
Petaling Jaya district police chief Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said police received a MERS 999 call about the gas leak at 10.17pm yesterday and rushed to the scene, assisted by 27 fire-fighters from nearby.
He said the area affected around the Jaya industrial park, which is about 400sqm, has been closed to the public due to a pollution index reading of 200 parts per million (ppm).
“Until now, no one has been affected by the incident, and nearby residents who smell gas and experience symptoms of dizziness and vomiting should immediately inform the police and seek treatment at the hospital.
“Until 1.15pm today, this area is still closed to the public, who are asked to use other routes to avoid any untoward incidents,” he said today.
Meanwhile, Fakhrudin said the area surrounding the ice factory in Taman Perindustrian Jaya will only be reopened when the pollution index reading is at 25 ppm.
He said the current reading inside the factory is at 240 ppm and the surrounding area at about 200 ppm.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Mukhlis Mokhtar, operations assistant director of the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, said firefighters used a water mist to reduce the ammonia level to a safe level.
“So far, no victims have been reported involved, our personnel will be at the location until the area is confirmed to be safe,” he said.
A resident of the Seri Meranti apartments, which are located next to the industrial area, reported having shortness of breath and a sore throat after inhaling ammonia gas last night.
Zainal Abidin said at the time of the incident, he was in the office of the apartment’s joint management committee, and he thought the air conditioning gas on the premises was leaking.
“However, even after the air conditioning was turned off, the odour lingered and became stronger. I then went outside and saw many residents coming out and down from their homes, some complaining of shortness of breath,” he said. – October 25, 2023