Fire and rescue department operation commander Hasnan Abd Rahman said they received a distress call at 2.03pm and dispatched 19 personnel, including a hazmat team and an emergency medical rescue service vehicle to the scene.

He said the incident was believed to have been caused by a leak in a pipe, which had released about 50 litres of ammonia gas.

“Upon reaching the scene, we found the transfer of the remaining 100 litres of ammonia gas from the leaking tank was being carried out manually (via a secondary line).

“The area’s safety was guaranteed through the swift response of firefighters, who transferred the (remaining) gas to an adjacent tank and evacuated the building as a precautionary measure,” Bernama reported him as saying in a statement.

Hasnan said 107 workers were evacuated, and instructed to return home after two hours of monitoring.

He said hazmat personnel from the Larkin fire and rescue station arrived at the location at 8pm and immediately conducted a check on both the ground and first floors of the building.

“The ammonia gas concentration reading stood at 0.45ppm, indicating a controlled and safe level.

“The factory operator and an appointed contractor are now overseeing maintenance work and the decontamination of the affected area,” Hasnan said, adding that the incident had been successfully contained without any casualties.