Students at secondary school in Bukit Mertajam, Penang made a distress call to the Fire and Rescue Department today after spotting spilled mercury inside their classroom.
According to a report by the New Straits Times‘s Phuah Ken Lin, a team from the department arrived at SMK Guar Perahu after receiving the call at 10.15am today.
“A hazardous material (Hazmat) team arrived to clean up the spilled item shortly afterwards. Our early investigations showed that the spillage happened yesterday afternoon,” a spokesman was quoted as saying.
No one was harmed and classes went on as usua.
Mercury — commonly found in thermometers — is highly toxic and can cause serious health hazards through long-term exposure.
