KUALA LUMPUR: The ammonia gas leak at a factory in Shah Alam earlier today was caused by a forklift colliding with a valve of an ammonia tank.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim, in a statement, said preliminary investigations found that the leak occurred when a forklift collided with a valve on one of the ammonia tanks during tank transfer works at 11.30am.
He said the situation at the scene was under control.
"The factory has contacted a vendor to repair the valve. The operation was completed at 6.30pm," he said.
Iqbal added that 33 people experienced respiratory distress, including 14 female workers from the factory and 19 male workers from an adjacent factory.
"All victims have been sent to hospitals in the Klang Valley area for treatment, and all are in stable condition."
Earlier today, 10 factory workers were rushed to the hospital following an ammonia gas leak at a factory in the Bukit Raja Industrial Area in Seksyen 7.
State Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (operations) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the department was alerted to the incident at 11.15am.
"Preliminary checks suggested that there was a valve leakage from a tank storing ammonia gas.
"At present, the victims comprise eight women and two men, including one worker from a nearby factory.
"All victims have been sent to Shah Alam Hospital for further treatment. Work to shut off the valve is being done by the HAZMAT (hazardous materials) team."