Firemen clear mercury spill at Sabah school

Dangerous substance: Firemen clearing the mercury spill at the school’s laboratory.

KOTA KINABALU: Firemen were called in to help clear mercury that spilled from a broken thermometer at a school in the Tuaran district, about 40km from here yesterday.

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the distress call was made by SM St John staff to the Tuaran station at 9.07am, and the fire team arrived two minutes later.

The firefighters, in full personal protective equipment, proceeded to the laboratory to clean up the spill.

“We used sand to cover the mercury and later cleared the spill. After ensuring there were no other harm or risk, we ended the operation at 9.35am,” said the spokesman.