An ammonia leak at the Majibacoa ice plant prompted a series of emergency evacuations.
The firefighters were forced to evacuate the teachers and students of the Ernesto Guevara de la Serna Agricultural Polytechnic Institute (IPA), as well as ten private homes that were within the radius of damage of the chemical.
The causes
Preliminary reports, published by the pro-government newspaper Periódico 26, indicate that the leak occurred due to a failure in the piping system, allowing the release of around 300 kg of ammonia. Although the ice plant was undergoing maintenance, the incident occurred during the refrigerant gas supply operation.
According to cited sources, the repair work in the storage tank had been completed, and everything was ready to once again receive the gas necessary for ice production. However, during the process of discharging the mother pipe into the reservoir, a leak was detected in the outlet cock, which triggered the activation of the emergency protocol.
Alerts
The specialists recommended that evacuees follow certain safety measures, such as staying informed and, in case of breathing difficulties, positioning themselves in the direction of the wind and placing a wet towel over their nose and eyes.
Ammonia, a colorless gas with a pungent odor, can be extremely dangerous when inhaled or in contact with the skin or eyes. Adverse health effects may vary depending on the concentration and duration of exposure, including respiratory, skin and eye irritation, as well as nervous system effects and possible chemical burns.
Fortunately, in a later update, it was confirmed that no people were injured during the evacuation and that the leak was controlled without causing significant property damage, providing a breath of relief to the affected community.
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