Alabang fuel leak sparks safety advisories in village

A gas leak at a fuel station inside the Alabang Country Club forced a temporary closure and prompted safety advisories across Ayala Alabang Village, raising concerns among nearby residents and schools, officials said Tuesday.

The leak was first detected around 6:20 p.m. Monday, when security personnel from the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) reported a strong fuel odor along Acacia Avenue near the club’s Gate 2.

In a statement, the Alabang Country Club said its engineering team was immediately deployed and coordinated with all on-site concessionaires to identify the source of the fumes. An initial investigation pointed to a possible leak from one of five underground fuel tanks operated by Petron.

Petron dispatched a technical team to conduct an on-site inspection. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) arrived at around 9 p.m. to assess the situation, while flushing of the drainage system was carried out as a precaution to reduce fire risk.

The Petron station has been closed indefinitely as safety assessments and remediation efforts continue, the club confirmed.

Beyond the club premises, the leak’s effects were felt by nearby institutions and homes. Residents and staff at De La Salle Santiago Zobel School reported a strong fuel odor along a creek running through the area.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid the creek, keep doors and windows closed, and refrain from lighting open flames due to the flammability of fuel vapors. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or nausea were advised to seek immediate medical attention and contact the AAVA Health and Safety Office.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no injuries or structural damage had been reported. 

UPDATE: De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) implemented early dismissal for students on its Alabang campus on Tuesday after a strong fuel odor was detected in a nearby creek.

Grades 5 and 6 were dismissed at 12:00 p.m., while Grades 7 to 10 followed at 12:30 p.m. Onsite classes for the Br. Rafael Donato FSC Night School were also suspended. Affected grade levels will shift to structured asynchronous learning.