The chemical pollution crisis at Sungai Kim Kim, which began last Thursday, worsened last night, as toxic fumes forced dozens more people to seek treatment at hospitals in the area. (NSTP Archive)
New Straits Times 12 Mar 19;
JOHOR BARU: The chemical pollution crisis at Sungai Kim Kim, which began last Thursday, worsened last night, as toxic fumes forced dozens more people to seek treatment at hospitals in the area.
According to Bernama, the number of victims suffering breathing difficulties and vomiting from exposure to the chemical pollution, which had been mysteriously dumped in the river, rose to 207 as of 11pm last night.
Most of those affected in the latest incident are students of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Pasir Putih and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Pasir Putih which are situated near the polluted river.
“As of 11pm (on Monday), 29 people were sent to health clinics for examination, while 77 victims were referred to the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI).
“Of the total, 35 were admitted for further treatment, with four being warded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” Johor Health director Dr Selahuddeen Abd Aziz said in a statement here, last night.
He added that 44 victims of the first incident on Thursday are still at the HSI, with six still in the ICU.
Dr Selahuddeen said both SK Taman Pasir Putih and SMK Taman Pasir Putih have been closed by the authorities.
He also advised members of the public to avoid the affected areas near Sungai Kim Kim and Pasir Gudang until further notice.
Second wave of chemical pollution pushes number of victims to 207
The Star 12 Mar 19;
JOHOR BARU (Bernama): The number of victims in the dumping of toxic waste into Sungai Kim Kim last Thursday has risen dramatically to 207 people as at 11pm Monday (March 11) following a second wave of attack which took place earlier at noon.
Johor Health director Dr Selahuddeen Abd Aziz said as at noon Monday, the second wave incident affected students of SK Taman Pasir Putih and SMK Taman Pasir Putih.
"As at 11pm, 29 people have been sent to health clinics nearby for examination while 77 victims were referred to Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) in which 35 were warded for further treatment.
"Out of the 35, four patients were awarded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). With 16 patients from the first wave allowed to return home, the total number of patients still awarded at HSI now stands at 44 (six in ICU and 38 in normal ward)," he said in a statement here Monday.
As in the first incident, victims who inhaled the gas suffered shortness of breath and vomiting.
Both SK Taman Pasir Putih and SMK Taman Pasir Putih were now closed again by the authorities.
Meanwhile, he advised schools and residents to seek treatment if they experience symptoms of breathing difficulties after inhaling the chemical gas.
Members of the public are advised to avoid entering the affected areas in Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang until further instructions. - Bernama
Two schools hit by toxic gas ordered closed again
remar nordin The Star 12 Mar 19;
JOHOR BARU: Two schools affected by toxic fumes last week were ordered to close again after students started showing symptoms of chemical exposure.
Classes had resumed at SK Taman Pasir Putih and SM Taman Pasir Putih for only five hours yesterday before the decision was made by the Fire and Rescue Hazmat (hazardous materials) team.
State Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal said they had again received reports of students having breathing difficulty.
“The decision to reopen the schools was made on Sunday but now we are closing them until further notice,” he told reporters after visiting the schools yesterday.
Two victims, including a student, were intubated as their respiratory systems were blocked.
In yesterday’s incident, Dr Sahruddin said as of 1.30pm, eight students were taken to Sultan Ismail Hospital while 10 students and two teachers received treatment at the schools.
Dr Sahruddin added that the Hazmat unit found that the air quality in the schools was normal but will conduct thorough investigations.
“We are trying to find out what triggered this incident, whether it is really because of the chemical or just a panic reaction from other students who saw their friends having trouble breathing.
“We have also received reports of students fainting this morning because they skipped breakfast. So there are a lot of factors that we need to clarify,” he said.
He added that the Johor Disaster Relief Committee will meet again today to discuss the issue.
Johor Hazmat unit chief Saiful Bahari Safar said he ordered for the schools to close at about noon and investigations are underway.
“Based on our checks and the air quality reading, this incident should not have happened,” he said when met at the scene.
Causing a real stink
remar nordin The Star 12 Mar 19;
JOHOR BARU: Images of dead fish and black smelly water are closely associated with Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang now because of the chemical waste that was illegally dumped there last Wednesday.
One of the most affected villages in the area is Kampung Bukit Pulai, where the river runs beneath the village main road that connects Kota Masai and Taman Pasir Putih.
A visit by StarMetro to the village found the area filled with a strong oil stench, with villagers seen covering their nose each time they were near the river.
One of the villagers, Zulkifli Kasim, said the oil has been accumulating in a ditch in a mangrove area about 500m downstream from Jalan Cermai 13, near Kampung Bukit Pulai.
“Checks done by the Fire and Rescue Department in the village revealed the air here is about 5% polluted by the gas emitted from the chemical in the river.
“There is one part along the river where the oil has remained stagnant and accumulating during the low tide, and the heat from the sun would dry it up, leaving a smell that is carried by the wind,” he said.
The 50 year-old added that the river area was only accessible by boat during high tide and the oil has not been flowing towards the sea since last Wednesday.
“The smell there is more horrible, the river is black with dead fish and monitor lizards floating in the area.
“That area is inaccessible on foot because of the snake habitat and drones cannot fly there because of the mangrove tree branches, so the only way to see it is by boat,” he added.Zulkifli hoped more action could be taken by Johor Department of Environment (DoE) and relevant agencies in helping the villagers in the area.
“I am concerned for my fellow villagers here, as they also have children going to school in SK and SMK Taman Pasir Putih.
“I believe more time will be required by the agencies to clean up this mess even though DoE expects clean up works will be completed in five days,” he said, adding that the villagers were willing to offer their help.
Meanwhile, another villager, Nur Satria Rabu, 33, hoped the culprit behind this incident would face the consequences of their irresponsible action that affected the people in the area.
“Our village is not a dumping site for industries to come and just dispose of their waste, we have people living here that depend on the river for their livelihoods,” he said.
He added that the smell and pollution had spread along the river.
Nur Satria, a part-time fisherman, has now lost one of his daily sources of income because of pollution.
“It is hard to navigate through the river because of the strong smell and there is no point catching the fish if all of them are dead,” he said.
It was reported earlier that DoE was currently identifying the culprit behind the chemical waste dump in Sungai Kim Kim here, which led to 79 people being treated from breathing in hazardous fumes.
Three arrested for waste dumping
The Star 12 Mar 19;
JOHOR BARU: Three men, including two company owners, have been arrested in relation to chemical waste dumped in Sungai Kim Kim – which led to dozens being treated for exposure to hazardous fumes.
State Department of Environment (DoE) director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said the suspects were picked up in a joint operation with the police.
A chemical processing factory owner in Kulai were arrested at about 7pm on Sunday, while a waste processing factory owner in Pasir Putih and his worker were arrested at 12.30pm yesterday, he said.
The suspects are between 40 and 50 years old.
Mohammad Ezanni met reporters during a visit to the waste processing factory in Jalan Selar 1, Pasir Putih here.
Also present was State Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal.
Mohammad Ezanni said a Chemistry Department report led investigators to the first suspect.
“We are currently waiting for another report to determine if chemical compound from the waste processing company was also in the same river,” he said.
Mohammad Ezanni said the arrest of the second suspect was made after a public tip-off informing DoE about their activity.
“We immediately raided the factory and found black chemical material. The worker of the company admitted the waste was going to be disposed of in the river, which is located 500m from the factory.
The case is being investigated under the Environmental Quality Act, which carries a fine of not more than RM500,000 and up to five years’ jail, upon conviction.
Mohammad Ezanni said they hoped to charge the suspects this week but this depends on the deputy public prosecutor.
Three men arrested in connection with illegal dumping of chemical
IZLAILY NURUL AIN HUSSEIN New Straits Times 11 Mar 19;
JOHOR BARU: Three men have been arrested in connection with the illegal chemical dumping incident in Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang on Thursday.
The three suspects, in their 40s and 50s, were factory owners and a factory worker.
They were arrested in Kulai and Taman Pasir Putih last night and this afternoon.
Johor Department of Environment (DoE) director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said one of the suspects, the owner of a chemical processing factory, was arrested in Kulai at 7pm yesterday.
"At about 12.30pm today, we arrested the owner of a recycling factory in Taman Pasir Putih along with one of his employees," Mohammad Ezzani told reporters at a factory belonging to one of the suspects in Pasir Gudang, here.
Also present was state Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee Dr Sahruddin Jamal.
Mohammad Ezzani said the first raid was conducted by DoE and the police after they received a chemistry report on the sample of the substance taken in Sungai Kim Kim.
"After receiving the report, we started to look for factories which process the same chemical identified in the sample and raided the factory in Kulai.
"Based on our checks, the chemicals found in the factory matched the substance that was dumped in Sungai Kim Kim. However, we are still waiting for further tests on the chemicals found at the factory. We have arrested the owner to assist in the investigation," said Mohammad Ezzani.
He said the department also received information regarding another factory and raided it this afternoon.
"During the raid, we found several packages of scheduled chemicals and when we asked one of the suspects, he admitted that it would be disposed off.
"When we asked where it is to be disposed off, he only said 'over there' (depan sana) so we suspect they would dump it in the river tonight," said Mohammad Ezzani.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which carries a jail sentence of not more than five years or a fine of not more than RM500,000 or both, upon conviction.
