Over 30 people who inhaled the poisonous gas on July 29, 2015 in Douala received medical attention.

The premises of Union Camerounaise de Brasseries (UCB), in the Bassa industrial zone of Douala, were crowded with some of the 800 workers all trying to get out after a gas leak caused the collapse of over 30 workers in the neighbouring SPN company. According to UBC officials, the poisonous gas, ammonia, leaked early morning yesterday, July 29, 2015, and was carried by wind to the nearby company that caused the collapse of over 30 workers after they inhaled it.

The leak seriously affected only one worker in UCB while many others who came in contact with the gas were advised to bathe and drink enough water in order to mitigate the effect. The incident caused more fear than harm since no life was lost and those ferried to hospital responded positively to medical attention.

After informing the Fire Fighting Brigade that arrived on time, the technical team checked all the nooks and crannies of the vast company and detected the exact position of the gas leak that was quickly taken care off. After watching the situation for over two hours, top ranking officials of the company instructed that investigations be carried out to confirm that everything was alright. After crosschecking with the Fire Fighting Brigade, management assembled the worried workers and encouraged them to go back to work.

Meanwhile, the premises of the neighbouring company that suffered the consequences of the leak were deserted. According to the General Manager of SPN, Hoballah Ibrahim, the workers were sent home in order to avert any unforeseen consequences. “They will only resume after the situation has been sufficiently taken care of. Eight of the 30 workers sent to hospital are said to be responding to treatment,” he reassured.