18 hospitalized for food poisoning

PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 18 senior high school students recruited as flag hoisting squad members for the Aug. 17 independence celebration ceremony in Donggala regency were rushed to hospital due as a result of food poisoning on Saturday.

The students vomited and fainted after eating food served for a breakfast by a local government committee during the training.

Witnesses said one of the victims, Susilawati, 16, was in the intensive care unit at the Anutapura General Hospital after losing consciousness.

The students were among 40 members of the flag hoisting squad. --Antara