At 13:53 the City of Cape Town was informed of an emergency incident where ammonia was released into the atmosphere in the Montague Gardens Industrial area.
The Fire & Rescue Services and the Disaster Risk Management Centre were dispatch to the incident and upon arrival the workers at the Igloo Ice plant that is situated at c/o First and Sixth Street, Montague were evacuated.
As a result of the uncontrolled ammonia emission at the facility twenty persons were slightly overcome by the fumes.
The emergency and disaster management services officials cordoned off the immediate precinct in the interest of public safety.
According to the plant supervisor on-duty the cause of the uncontrolled release of the ammonia was as a result of a faulty safety release valve that popped off a cylinder.
The City’s emergency and disaster personnel made the area safe and handed over the scene to the management of the plant.
The relevant authorities will investigate the incident i.t.o. the provisions of Section 30 of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998.
The plant is required to provide a detailed report regarding the incident; to undertake reasonable measures to prevent such pollution or degradation of the environment; to minimize and rectify the pollution to the environment; and to take any steps as required to minimize the effect of the incident on public health and the environment to the relevant organs of state.
End
Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
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