Two schools closed, 35 treated due to chemical gas pollution

JOHOR BAHRU, March 7 (Bernama) -- Two schools were closed while 35 people, mostly students, were treated at the Sultan Ismail Hospital after sniffing chemical gas resulting from the dumping of chemical waste into the Kim Kim River near Pasir Gudang, early this morning.

Other than residents in Taman Pasir Putih who were badly affected, residents in Kampung Bukit Pulai and Ladang Tong Heng Lama, who stayed near the river, were urged to be sensitive to their respective health changes because there was a possibility they were also exposed to the pollution.

‘’The chemical is always moving in the water, so there is a possibility they are also exposed. If they experience symptoms like breathing difficulties, cough and red eyes, quickly go for treatment at the nearby clinics,” said State Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

The residents of Kampung Pinggiran Acheh were also told not to conduct fishing activities for the time being.

The incident of pollution which was reported at 5.15 am was said to have been sourced from a tanker lorry which had dumped the chemical waste into the KimKim River early yesterday morning.

The Fire and Rescue Department had identified an area of about 500 metres radius in the 1.65 km river which was polluted by the dumping of the chemical waste and had installed oil booms to absorb and check the chemical from spreading.

Dr Sahruddin said that most of the 35 people who were treated comprised pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Pasir Putih and students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pasir Putih - two schools which were directed closed until the security report was issued by the Fire and Rescue Department and the Department of Environment.

‘’Twenty-one people are warded at the Sultan Ismail Hospital here including three in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), five are being treated at the emergency unit of the hospital while the rest were given outpatient treatment and allowed to go home.

‘’All of them, aged from seven to 40 years, are reported to be stable,’’ he said.

He said samples of the river pollution had been taken by the state Fire and Rescue Department and the Department of Environment  to be analysed and the culprits could be charged under Section 34B of Environmental Quality Act 1974 which brings a fine of up to RM500,000 and jail of not more than five years.

Meanwhile, the Johor Education Department would continue to monitor closely the situation at the two schools and other schools near the site of the dumping of the chemical waste.

Its deputy director Azman Adnan said, that with the monitoring, the department would decide whether the closure of Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Pasir Putih and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pasir Putih needed to be extended or otherwise on Sunday.

“In this regard, all co-curriculum activities on Saturday are also cancelled,’’ he said.

The incident roused the ire of residents in the area who regarded those responsible as being uncivilised and wanted them to dragged to court as soon as possible.

-- BERNAMA