Firemen using sulphur powder to clean up the spilt mercury at SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin in Penampang, Sabah.
KOTA KINABALU: Three students have been rushed to the hospital after coming in contact with mercury that spilled from a broken thermometer at a secondary school in Penampang near here.
This the fifth mercury spill incident at a Sabah school within the past two months.
In the latest incident, a Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said they received an emergency call from SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin at 9.38am on Wednesday (Oct 5).
He added that the mercury spilled after a thermometer in the laboratory broke.
"Three students were reportedly sent to the hospital by the school's management staff before the responders arrived," he said.
At the scene, firemen immediately poured sulphur powder on the spilt mercury to neutralise it before bagging the residue.
The operation ended at 10.05am, he added.
The most recent mercury spill incident took place at SMK Perempuan Sandakan on Friday (Sept 30).
On Sept 26, a student was rushed to hospital after coming in contact with mercury that spilled from a broken thermometer at SMK St Mary in the Papar district.
