21 Palembang residents collapse after inhaling gas
21 Palembang residents collapse after inhaling gas
Muhammad Huzair, The Jakarta Post/Palembang
At least 21 people were rushed to the Charitas Hospital on
Thursday night after inhaling an unknown gas leaking from a
canister floating in a Palembang canal.
Four were still being treated at the hospital as of Friday
evening, and two were in a critical condition, doctors said.
The incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Thursday when the gas
began leaking from a one-meter-long canister floating on the
canal near the Palembang Indah housing estate.
Victims said they were passing the canal when they smelled a
powerful stench. They quickly felt dizzy and sick, vomited and
then passed out in the middle of the road.
Tye type of gas coming from the canister had yet to be
identified.
The sight of fallen victims at the site caught the attention
of onlookers who were afraid to assist them because of the strong
stench.
The fire brigade arrived shortly after and sprayed the
canister with water. Passersby then helped take the victims to
hospital.
"The scent was very terrible, like the smell of sulfur, but
more putrid," said Jayusman, 50, who succumbed to the gas, at the
hospital on Thursday.
Jayusman, who works at a furniture shop not far from the site
where the canister was found, said he was walking back to the
shop after delivering some furniture when he felt dizzy and
nauseous.
Ahmad Taufik and Suhairi, who dumped the canister in the
canal, said they were asked by a person to empty the canister at
about 10 a.m. They opened the valve of the canister and submerged
it in the canal.
"We sunk it as we intended to empty the tank so that it could
be sold as scrap. But we don't know who the owner of the canister
is," claimed Taufik, who was being treated at the hospital on
Friday.
At about 6:30 p.m. local time, they heard somebody had fainted
after inhaling gas coming from the canister.
They returned to the area and tried to shut off the valve but
the stench of gas was too strong and they fainted.
While the tide in the canal was high, the gas had escaped into
the water and not affected people, they said. However, when the
water level started to drop in the afternoon the gas began
flowing into the air.
At about 7 p.m., Ilir Barat Police officers led by First Insp.
Rizki Agung Prakoso and detectives chief Second Insp. Tri Wahyudi
arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.
The policemen left the canister at the site until the forensic
team arrived.
Rizki said that based on statements form witnesses the gas
canister was owned by a "Heri" who had bought it in the Cinde
area.