152 workers poisoned

JAKARTA (JP): As many as 152 construction workers were hospitalized after they ate at a food stall at a construction site on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta. No fatalities reported.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday they found the food the workers ate was contaminated.

"The 152 workers are at Husada Public Hospital, West Jakarta. Another 22 workers are out-patients at the same hospital," Aritonang said.

The workers were working on a commercial high-story construction project owned by PT Chandranaya.

Aritonang said the workers had started feeling sick and were vomiting about an hour after they ate, around 8 p.m. Monday.

Police have questioned the food stall's employees and the construction manager, Aritonang said. (cst)