Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): On 5 September 2023 at 10:00am, the ice factory owned by Mrs. Chheang Mu, producing raw and sanitary ice in Chrang Chamres village, Khan Russey Keo, experienced an ammonia gas explosion. The incident caused many residents in the nearby area to collapse, and their families are calling for the factory's closure.

The affected residents and their families, along with local authorities, gathered at the factory to request its closure and relocation. Plans have been made to wait for further investigation by relevant authorities and finding a solution that will benefit the people living near the factory.

It should be noted that a similar incident previously occurred on 01/09/2023 at 7:30 pm, with many men and women fainting due to a gas leak from Upper ice factory.

According to sources at the scene, workers were tending to their duties in the ice factory when an ammonia gas pipe exploded, causing many to fall over and faint. Some individuals who were riding motorcycles closeby at the time of the explosion had to abandon their vehicles to avoid exposure to the fumes, while others in the area suffered from sore eyes, breathing difficulty, and fainting.

Immediate ambulance response was dispatched to the Samdech Mey Hospital, and a firetruck was also deployed to aid emergency response. Mr. Ek Khun Doeun, Governor of Russey Keo District, led the district force, intervening in the incident and sending the victims to the hospital via ambulance, with additional ambulance and fire truck services on standby in case of further emergencies.

Ice Factory Ordered to Suspend Operations After Causing Sickness
6 September 2023 2:20 PM
Runn Sreydeth
Hel Komsan
Phnom Penh authorities suspended the operations of an ice factory after an ammonia gas leak last Friday caused more than 30 people living nearby to experience severe sickness from the exposure.

The primarily ethnic Cham residents of Russey Keo district’s Kor village in Chrang Chamres 2 commune are demanding the factory, Chheang Mu, change locations after they survived what they said was a traumatic and life-threatening experience. Some, like Leop Ahshimas’ family lived about 100 meters away from the factory

“With the ammonia gas I could not breathe and I could not open my eyes, and I did not expect to be alive,” said Ahshimas, 38. “I told my aunt I was dead before her, and I did not hope my son and I were alive.”

Ahshimas said she could not afford to go to the hospital but that her four-year-old son still had a headache.

“I do not ask for any compensation, I just ask the owner of the ice factory to be more careful,” she said.

Ammonia, a strong smelling, colorless gas commonly used in industrial production can have significant health impacts, according to England’s Public Health department.

“Breathing in low levels of ammonia may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. High levels of ammonia may cause burns and swelling in the airways, lung damage and can be fatal,” the department stated.

One affected villager living near the factory, Sen Nafi, said she experienced “dizziness, headache, and vomiting,” and loss of sight during the exposure, and urged the factory to move to another area in the future.

“If the factory owner wants to continue, they have to be careful and if possible the factory owner should relocate​ but we will give them one or two years to replace the factory,” she said.

Khundoeurn, the district governor, said that the factory owner needed time to find a new location and build a new factory.
https://cambojanews.com/ice-factory-ord ... -sickness/