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.