Three crew members in critical condition after inhaling toxic fumes

A Vietnamese cargo ship Vimaru Pearl docked in the Kota Kinabalu port for medical assistance after three crew members became critically ill from inhaling toxic gas.

KOTA KINABALU: Three crew members of a Vietnamese cargo vessel are a in critical condition after inhaling poisonous fumes from a gas leak.

The vessel Vimaru Pearl carrying rice from Vietnam to the Philippines came into port here at 6.30pm on Monday seeking medical help for the crewmen who became unconscious when gas leaked from the rice storage area into the vessel's engine room.  

All three sailors were rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here in three separate ambulances with the assistance of the Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue Services Department.  

Sabah Bomba deputy operations director Khairul Ibrahim said 22 crewmen were on board, including the captain, when the incident occurred in international waters off the city here at about noon.  

“The closest port was Kota Kinabalu, so they called Sabah for help around 2.35pm,” Khairul said.  

Personnel from the hazardous materials (Hazmat) unit are now working to clean up the gas leak and stabilise the situation on the cargo ship.  

The vessel left Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at about 3.30am last Thursday and was scheduled to reach the Philippines around 9.30am Tuesday.