AN ammonia leak forced the evacuation of around 100 people from a residential neighbourhood in the early hours of yesterday.
The incident occurred when the colourless gas, comprising nitrogen and hydrogen, began leaking from a compressor at an ice making plant in Al Musalla, near Khamis.
Four Bahrainis were admitted to hospital after inhaling the highly toxic substance, although they were later discharged after receiving treatment.
Safety
The alarm was sounded at around 2am and 70 people living in 11 houses near the facility were moved to safety, while another 26 were asked to leave adjacent properties.
Four employees of the plant, operated by Aqua Utilities For Water Supply Company, were also evacuated from the site.
The four Bahrainis who required treatment all lived close to the ice plant and suffered symptoms that included a bleeding nose and breathing difficulties.
They were later identified as Yasar Busakhar, 48, Fatema Salman, 45, Marzooq Mohammed, 48, and Hasan Mohammed, 24.
Neighbours called the emergency services to the location after noticing an unpleasant smell coming from the ice plant.
“The incident happened at around 2am and was first reported by people in the residential area behind the factory,” sources told the GDN.
“They said people were feeling uncomfortable due to the smell.
“The Civil Defence team at the scene identified it as ammonia and around 70 people, both men and women at 11 houses, were immediately evacuated.
“Another 30 men, including those in nearby buildings and four inside the plant, were also evacuated.”
The four Bahrainis who required treatment were taken to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
“The gas spread more into the neighbourhood than inside the plant,” added sources.
“Luckily officials were informed at the right time, averting (a large number of) casualties.”
Ammonia poses a serious health hazard and is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs.
Heavy exposure can prove fatal, while the gas is also flammable at certain concentration in the air.
Emergency workers wearing hazmat suits were joined by Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) inspectors at the scene yesterday to assess the risk to public safety.
“Police patrols and hazmat team members divided into groups to ease the evacuation process,” added sources.
They said the ice plant had been temporarily shut down while an investigation is carried out.
Meanwhile, the company that operates the facility claimed the incident was beyond its control.
“A mechanical seal broke causing the gas leak and it spread to the houses behind the factory,” said a company representative.
“There were two men on night shift who were unaffected, as the gas spread more outside.
“Our plant manager, an experienced professional, rushed to the scene and all concerned officials were informed. They also arrived quickly and the leakage was controlled.”
He added the company would pay the medical bills of those affected.
“It happened at our factory, but it wasn’t in our hands as it was a technical issue,” he said.
“Yet we are ready to provide them with any assistance, including financial and medical care.”
The location was declared safe at around 5.30am yesterday and a water plant adjacent to the ice factory, which is owned by the same company, resumed operations by around 10.30am.
“The (ice) factory is closed until we rectify (the problem),” added the company representative.
“It will reopen after we make sure everything is fine and that the environment is safe for people nearby, as lives are more important than business.
“In all our 50 years of existence, this is the first incident of its kind and it was unfortunate.
“We are getting a specialised consultant and, with the help of officials, we will ensure the place is safe for operation.”
Tragedy
The incident is the second serious gas leak in Bahrain in a week. Three Bahraini women, including two sisters, died on June 5 after inhaling lethal quantities of gas at their home in Sitra.
The tragedy occurred on the second day of Eid in a garage that had been converted into a kitchen.
It emerged the deceased breathed in fatal amounts of propane gas inside the unventilated room.
raji@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))