Ammonia leak: 463 workers at chicken processing factory evacuated

A Fire and Rescue officer in hazmat suit carrying out inspections at the factory after the ammonia leak. – Photo: Sinar Harian

PETALING JAYA: A total of 463 workers at a chicken processing plant in Bagan Tengkorak, Tanjong Karang, were evacuated following an ammonia gas leak on Wednesday (Feb 2).

A worker at the plant discovered the leak after noticing a break in a pipe at the factory at about 1.10pm, Sinar Harian reported.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis said a team rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 1.20pm.

"A total of seven firefighters from the Tanjong Karang fire and rescue station went to the scene.

"An inspection showed that there was a leak in the ammonia piping system in the factory that emitted a strong smell," Sinar Harian quoted Norazam as saying in a statement.

The Malay language daily also reported that Fire and Rescue personnel and the factory's management shut all the valves in the gas piping system for further inspection.

Norazam said there were 463 workers present when the leak occurred, 290 men and 173 women.

All the workers were immediately evacuated to a safe location.