Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — An ammonia leak caused the evacuation of over 200 people Saturday night in north Playa del Carmen. City firemen, along with Civil Protection personnel, responded to the late night report from an ice factory.
Emergency services responded to the 11:00 p.m. report of an ammonia leak from the Bajo Cero ice factory on Playa del Carmen Boulevard and 88th Street North near the community of Lunamar.
Alarmed by smell of the chemicals, neighbors called 911, dispatching Civil Protection and fire department personnel to the site. At the scene, authorities confirmed a leak, tracking it down to one of the plant’s refrigeration units.
Given the health risks, approximately 200 people were evacuated from the surrounding residential areas including Paraíso Playa, Oasis and Selva Maya.
“The incident was fully contained hours after it began with no reported cases of poisoning. The emergency deployment included ambulance units ready for any eventuality,” authorities said in a statement.
Emergency crews worked to seal the source of the leak. Once the leak was under control, residents were able to return to their homes.
