Malaysia: 35 treated for methane poisoning after illegal waste dumping in Johor's Pasir Gudang

Channel NewsAsia 7 Mar 19;

JOHOR BAHRU: Thirty-five people, mostly students, have been hospitalised after breathing in methane from chemical waste that had been illegally dumped into a river in Pasir Gudang.

Those who fell ill were students and canteen workers from two schools, which were ordered shut on Thursday (Mar 7) while investigations take place.

"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," said Johor Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Sahruddin Jamal.

"All of them, aged from seven to 40 years, are reported to be stable."

Dr Sahruddin had said earlier on Thursday that eight people were in critical condition. A student had fainted and five more started vomiting after breathing in methane on Thursday morning.

A tanker lorry is believed to have dumped chemical waste into the Kim Kim River in Johor on Wednesday morning.

The Fire and Rescue Department has identified an area with a radius of about 500m which was polluted by the illegal dumping, and has installed oil booms to prevent the chemical from spreading.

While Dr Sahruddin said the situation is now under control, residents who show symptoms of gas poisoning, like nausea and throat irritation, have been advised to seek treatment.

"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,” he said.

Samples of the river pollution have been taken to be analysed.

Those found guilty of illegally dumping waste can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to RM500,000 (US$122,000).

The incident has incurred the wrath of residents in Taman Pasir Putih, a town near the polluted site.

Several reported having headaches although their symptoms were not severe as the hospitalised victims.

Mohamad Hazrin Mohamad Razali, 39, said he was worried about his children because both of them have asthma.

Another resident, Asrul Abeli, 32, said the action was "thoughtless".

"What more it is near schools resulting in children becoming ill ... I hope an investigation can be conducted to catch the culprits,’’ said Asrul.

Source: Bernama/zl/gs(aw/hm)

Johor methane poisoning: 39 still in hospital, four in ICU
NURUL AMANINA SUHAINI New Straits Times 8 Mar 19;

JOHOR BARU: A total of 39 people are still being treated at the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) here following exposure to methane gas originating from chemicals which had been illegally dumped in a river near Taman Pasir Putih in Pasir Gudang here, yesterday.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said 21 of the victims are students from SMK Pasir Putih and SK Pasir Putih.

She said four of the victims are in the Intensive Care Unit, including two students from SMK Pasir Putih. The other two victims are a canteen operator and an ambulance driver.

"All the victims, aged between five and 44, are reported to be in stable condition and are still under observation. None of the victims is a senior citizen," Teo said at a press conference after visiting the victims, today.

Also present was HSI deputy director (medical 2) Dr Surya Marsom.

Teo said the ministry will cooperate with the Department of Environment (DOE) to identify the parties responsible for the incident.

She said stern action needs to be taken against those responsible, as the incident has endangered innocent lives.

"This is not the first time that this has happened. A similar incident happened in Klang last year, although that was not as severe as this one," said Teo.

Meanwhile, Dr Surya said some of the victims will be allowed to go home today as their conditions have improved.


Dozens rushed to hospital due to toxic fumes
mohd farhaan shah and venesa devi The Star 8 Mar 19;

PASIR GUDANG: Students of a school here attended classes as usual but as soon after several of them started vomiting, the teachers knew something was terribly wrong.

As more students complained of feeling unwell and some having difficulties in breathing, alarm bells were triggered.

SK Taman Pasir Putih pupil affairs teacher Mohd Huzaini Jusnin said he alerted the Fire and Rescue Department at 8.30am for an emergency assistance.

Mohd Huzaini said, while entering the school earlier, they could sense a strong smell coming from the river nearby.

Mohd Huzaini said they were instructed to shut down the school and evacuate all pupils.

Seven pupils and one canteen operator were rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

Some students in the adjacent school – SM Pasir Putih – also exhibited the same symptoms and were rushed to hospital.

One of the residents living near Sungai Kim Kim also felt unwell due to the strong stench.

Housewife Sahaliza Hasim, 36, complained of having difficulties in breathing and feeling nauseous since she woke up in the morning.

Her sister Salina, 42, said she received a call from her younger sister about her condition.

“At about 11am, she called me again, asking for help to send her to the clinic.

“She fainted few minutes after I arrived at her house,” she said when met at the Sultan Ismail Hospital here.

Salina has yet to be allowed to see her sister and is worried about her condition.

Authorities are now investigating a chemical waste dump along Sungai Kim Kim, which is about 500m away from the two schools.

Johor Fire and Rescue Depart­ment chief Datuk Yahaya Madis said the Hazmat team and officials from the Department of Environ­ment had taken water and soil samples near the location.

“We will also carry out preventive measures to stop the chemical from contaminating the river,” he said.

Johor Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal said that 26 patients were brought to the Sultan Ismail Hospital, six to Pasir Gudang health clinic and three others to Penawar Hospital.

“Three victims, including a student, are receiving breathing aid in ICU.

“The rest of the patients are in stable condition,” he said, adding there were several cases of river pollution in the past.

Dr Sahruddin said the case was being investigated under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act, which carries a fine of not more than RM500,000, or up to five years jail, upon conviction.

The Johor Education Department has ordered both schools to close until further notice.

Chemical fumes in Johor's Pasir Gudang were from dumped oil waste: Report
Straits Times 8 Mar 19;

JOHOR BARU - The Malaysian government has identified the chemical waste that was illegally dumped into a river in Johor Baru on Thursday (March 7), that made several dozen people ill.

The Johor Department of Environment (DoE) director Mohammad Ezzani Mat Salleh said the substance was an oil-based mixture that emits methane and benzene fumes, according to Malay Mail news site.

"The oily substance is believed to be oil waste commonly used in marine engine compressors and is considered scheduled waste that needs to be disposed off properly under the law," he was quoted as saying on Friday.

"Based on our investigations, we estimate that around 20 to 40 tonnes of the oil waste were illegally dumped into parts of the Sungai Kim Kim river," Datuk Mohammad Ezzani told Malay Mail when contacted.

The waste substance may have come from marine engineering or petrochemical factories in Johor.

News reports on Thursday say dozens of people, including 18 students, were admitted to hospital after inhaling gas from the dumped waste substance in the Pasir Gudang area.

Some of the adults were canteen workers at the Pasir Putih government schools.

Mr Mohammad Ezzani said Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) had contacted the department seeking updates on the situation due to fears of cross-border water pollution.

"At present, we have managed to contain the situation," he said, as quoted by Malay Mail.

Mr Mohammad Ezzani said the department aims to identify, nab and prosecute the culprits responsible for the illegal dumping.

"A formal report has been submitted and, based on eyewitness accounts, the dumping was done from a tanker lorry during pre-dawn hours on Thursday," he told the news site.

The waste substance may have come from marine engineering or petrochemical factories in Johor.

On the cleaning-up efforts, Mr Mohammad Ezzani said the bulk of the oily substance on the river's surface has been disposed off.

But it will take at least two more days to clear the remaining residue that affects some 5km of the river, he was quoted as saying.