38 Taken Ill After Inhaling Chlorine

KUANTAN, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- At least 38 residents of Kampung Galing Besar, Jalan Beserah near here were taken ill with 11 being warded in Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital Saturday evening after a group of three drug addicts released chlorine gas from a tank.
State Fire and Rescue Services Acting Deputy Director Yaakob Ab Rahman said the incident occurred at 4.20 pm when three drug addicts released the gas from a cylinder kept in one of the houses in the neighbourhood.
A pandemonium broke out in the neighbourhood of 500 residents and 80 houses when the residents had breathing difficulties, irritation in the eyes and started coughing and vomiting.
"We believe the gas is chlorine normally used by the Water Supply Department to neutralise the water supplied to consumers. We are still investigating how the gas cylinder came to this area," he told reporters at the scene.
No quarantine orders were issued, but after 7 pm, the area looked safe and the residents were allowed to return to their homes, he said.