They become nauseous after inhaling the fumes
                 leaking from the chemical factory while one of
                 them, a van driver, crashes into another car

                 KEMAMAN (Pahang) -- Several people were
                 overcome by toxic fumes while passing by a factory
                 manufacturing sulphuric acid while a van driver lost
                 control of his vehicle and crashed into another.

                 Twelve people became nauseous as they inhaled toxic
                 fumes leaking from a chemical factory at an industrial
                 park in Teluk Kalong on Monday.

                 Among those who felt nauseous were housewife
                 Halimah Abdul Rahman, 34, and her two children.

                 They were in a car to fetch her husband when they
                 felt dizzy and nauseous while passing the factory.

                 Ms Halimah said that she initially thought there was
                 some odour from inside the car but when they
                 emerged from the vehicle, their condition worsened.

                 Passers-by sent her and her children to the Kemaman
                 Hospital where they sought outpatient treatment.

                 Five others faced a similar predicament.

                 Van driver, Mr Raja Yahya Mohamad, 23, said he
                 and four others were in a vehicle while passing the
                 factory when they had breathing difficulties.

                 He said he lost control of the vehicle and rammed into
                 another.

                 Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the
                 incident.

                 The incident was the second reported in the vicinity of
                 the factory so far.

                 In 1997, 40 people sought medical treatment after
                 having breathing difficulties.

                 In a separate case in 1997, more than 80 people,
                 including children, in Kelantan were rushed to the
                 hospital after they inhaled chlorine gas that leaked
                 from a water treatment plant in Kuala Krai.

                 The incident is believed to have occurred when one of
                 the chlorine gas tanks at the water treatment plant
                 leaked the gas.

                 The villagers had complained of breathing difficulties
                 and throat and eye irritations.

                 But Kelantan Water Sdn Bhd, which managed the
                 state's water resources, has denied responsibility for
                 the chlorine gas leak.

                 In 1998, a worker, believed to have been overcome
                 by toxic fumes, died while five others were
                 hospitalised with breathing difficulties, following a gas
                 leak at a textile factory in Nilai.

                 They were carrying out repair work at the factory's
                 gas lines when they discovered the leak about noon.
                 -- News Straits Times
 
 

                 GASSED: Similar poisoning in the past

                  IN 1997, 40 people sought medical treatment after
                 having breathing difficulties in the vicinity of the
                 industrial park in Teluk Kalong.

                  In a separate case in 1997, more than 80 people,
                 including children, in Kelantan were rushed to the
                 hospital after they inhaled chlorine gas that leaked
                 from a water treatment plant in Kuala Krai.

                  In 1998, a worker, believed to have been overcome
                 by toxic fumes, died while five others were
                 hospitalised with breathing difficulties, following a gas
                 leak at a textile factory in Nilai.

                      Adapted from The Straits Times, 10 May 2000.