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By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter
TWENTY-SEVEN people, including
three infants and three pregnant women, were brought to the hospital
Monday morning after a chlorine tank leaked and spewed dangerous
fumes from a junk shop in Pasig City.
Raquel Naciangayo, Pasig City
Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) chief, said the
incident occurred about 9 a.m. after foul smoke spewed from Spike
Junk Shop located at No. 8 Mercedes Avenue, Pacita Compound, San
Miguel Village, Pasig City. A certain Roberto Camelon owns the shop.
The Pasig City police immediately
cordoned off the area as a massive evacuation of nearby residents
was made, said police chief Senior Supt. Francisco Uyami Jr.
The victims include infants, from
a one-month-old baby to a three-year-old toddler, and three pregnant
women were brought to the Pasig City General Hospital for immediate
treatment.
Orlando Benito, San Miguel
barangay captain, said most of the victims complained about severe
stomach pains and nausea after inhaling the smoke that came from the
junkshop.
Naciangayo explained that
chlorine is similar to acetylene, which could immediately cause
difficulty in breathing, dizziness and the urge to vomit.
Uyami said that the junk shop
collected the tanks, which they thought was empty, unknowing that
they still had dangerous contents.
Pasig City police and local
village officials immediately asked residents to leave their homes
to seek shelter in nearby gymnasiums until the air was filtered.
Residents were urged to stay 300 meters away from the site of the
leak.
The Pasig City Department of
Natural Resources (DENR) Chemical Division is conducting an
investigation into other possible effects of the leakage.
According to the guidelines of
Cenro, the owner of the shop should take precautions and ensure
proper sanitation, good housekeeping, and suppress odor, noise and
water dust pollution and other public nuisances.
The junkshop violated the codes
of the Environment Health and Safety of Pasig City. Charges of
negligence resulting in physical injuries and violation of safety
procedures may be filed against the owner.
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