SANDAKAN – A 40-year-old man died today after being exposed to an ammonia gas leak from a broken ice machine here, confirmed police.
Sandakan district police chief Abdul Fuad Abdul Malek, at a press conference held here today, said that at the time of the incident at about 10am today, a total of 18 workers were inside the premises of the ice manufacturing factory, Sinaran Ice Cube Sdn Bhd at Mile 3 here.
“The deceased fell unconscious when he was rescued by the Fire and Rescue Department. He was rushed to Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDoK) but was pronounced dead when he reached the hospital.
“The rest of the victims – 17 of them were being treated at the hospital; six people have been discharged; and several of them have been admitted to the ICU and are still there,” he said, adding that the victims are aged between 21 and 55.
Earlier today, Scoop reported that a man was seriously injured while 12 others experienced breathing difficulties and suffered sores on their eyes and skin following the gas leak.
Meanwhile, Fuad said early investigations found that at the time of the incident, a mechanic was performing maintenance work on an ice-cutting machine, assisted by seven workers from the factory.
“In the midst of the maintenance work, a cooling pipe system leaked, causing the release of ammonia gas from the entire cooling system tube.
“Police are still investigating the cause of the incident, and the case of the deceased is classified as sudden death,” he said.
Fuad mentioned that currently, factories in the area are still prohibited from opening until the Environment Department submits a comprehensive report to police.
Ammonia is toxic and corrosive. Exposure to high concentrations of the gas in the air could be fatal.
Meanwhile, HDoK director Dr Mohd Fahmie Othman advised residents living nearby or members of the public who were nearby at the time of the incident to go to the hospital’s emergency unit should they experience breathing difficulties, burning eyes or itchy skin. – November 10, 2023