SIPITANG: Two people have died and three others were in critical condition after inhaling ammonia at the Sabah Ammonia Urea (Samur) project, here.
The five men, including a Malaysian, were carrying out maintenance work at the site when one of the pipes allegedly leaked some gas around 9.30am.
Sipitang police chief DSP Ag. Md. Arsad Ag. Bakar confirmed the incident but declined to comment further amid investigations.
Arsad, however, said the incident did not pose any threat to the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) in a statement said that a leakage of ammonia occurred at the Petronas Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah Sdn Bhd (PCFSSB) Plant in Sipitang around 9.30am.
A spokesperson from PCFSSB said the emergency response team was immediately mobilized and the situation had been contained.
“Five PCFSSB contractors were affected. The company, however, regrets to inform that two fatalities were reported to have been affected.
“The other three affected personnel have received appropriate medical treatment,” it said.
The incident also posed no immediate threat to the surrounding communities or environment and an investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the incident.