2.43 tonnes of chemical waste collected on day dumping was reported

PASIR GUDANG: Agencies involved in the cleaning-up operation of the polluted Sungai Kim Kim collected 2.43 tonnes of chemical waste on the day the incident was reported.

Johor Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal said this was the amount collected last Thursday (March 7).

“The operation on that day ended at around 11pm, where the waste was sent to a disposal area, which is licensed by the DOE.

“However, the cleaning-up work had to be stopped on the second day, which was on March 8, after getting advice from the Health Department and DOE, as it is found that the waste is toxic and, thus, needed to meet the standards set by Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH),” he added.

Dr Sahruddin said this at a press conference held at Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) here on Thursday (March 14).

He added that cleaning work was continued on Wednesday (March 13), as the authorities had by then appointed contractors who had experience in handling such wastes.

In another matter, Dr Sahruddin said that the numbers of those affected from the pollution stood at 947, as of Wednesday (March 13) at around 8pm.

He added that 209 victims had so far been warded at government hospitals, while eight had been placed in intensive care units.