MELAKA: The ammonia gas leak at a poultry processing factory in Merlimau here on Tuesday (Sept 3) stemmed from a burst supply pipe within the facility.
Nearby areas have been declared free from contamination, said Melaka Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew.
He said so far, 26 workers have been affected by the incident.
“Of the 26, five victims, comprising three local women and two foreign workers, are in the critical zone due to breathing difficulties and other complications.
"A local and an Indonesian, both females, have been placed at ordinary observation wards.
"The others were given outpatient treatment,” he said when contacted on Tuesday (Sept 3).
Tey said the affected workers are aged between 20 and 40.
Sixteen were referred to Jasin Hospital and 10 to Melaka Hospital.
Tey said the factory, located at Alor Gajah-Melaka Tengah-Jasin Highway (AMJ), has been operating for many years.
He said the Melaka Fire and Rescue Department has combed and evaluated the nearby areas in a radius of two kilometres and declared them free from contamination.
This includes nearby SK Paya Redan, SJK(T) Serkam and SMA Assayidah Khadijah.
“The affected site is now under the purview of Melaka police," said Tey.
He said the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is also probing the cause of the incident.
“I was told that repair works at the pipeline had been carried out and the situation doesn’t warrant any evacuation of nearby residents,” he added.
Nearby areas have been declared free from contamination, said Melaka Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew.
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