ALOR STAR: Fifty-nine workers from a factory at the Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Area fell sick after they were believed to have inhaled ammonia gas which leaked late last night.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain said most of them complained of breathing problems and vomiting.
“Twenty-six of them had to be rushed to hospital and given treatment in the yellow zone (semi-critical), with one in the red zone (critical),” he said.
Zain said the department received a distress call at 11.42 pm.
“Our team arrived at the location shortly after midnight and found that the ammonia gas pipe leak occurred in the factory’s storeroom,” he said.
He said the affected workers were first decontaminated to neutralise the gas before they were taken to hospital.