In a case that echoes this year’s earlier illicit toxic waste dumping in the Sungai Kim Kim area of industrial Johor, all kindergartens, schools, and educational institutions in the Pasir Gudang area of the southern state have been ordered to be closed until later this week after students reportedly fell ill.
Johor’s state technical and scientific committee made the decision Sunday, extending school closures through until Thursday while they investigate the cause of the symptoms.
In total, 13 individuals have complained of feeling ill, with another 49 persons receiving treatment at a temporary clinic set up inside the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium.
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Initial reports of ill-health began last Thursday, when 15 area students began to complain that they could not breathe, and were vomiting.
Later in the week, Fire and Rescue officials received calls at 11am Sunday morning from three separate schools, requesting assistance after students complained of the same symptoms.
Environment Department authorities, along with state officials have said that their investigations have now “narrowed down the source,” and that an announcement is expected soon. Many suspect toxic fumes to be at the center of the problem.
In March of this year, over 1000 individuals experienced similar symptoms after a lorry dumped the waste into the Kim Kim River, sending hazardous fumes into a wide-ranging area surrounding the site. Authorities later pinned the crime on a tire factory culprit, who was found to have dumped waste by-product directly into the town’s waters.
