Carrefour still closed

Superstore Carrefour in Ratu Plaza shopping center in South Jakarta remained closed on Friday while four employees were still in the hospital with gas poisoning.

"The doctors said some of them will be allowed to leave the hospital tomorrow, but others would have to stay longer for further observation," Carrefour spokesman Trijono Prijosusilo told The Jakarta Post.

He added that the doctors of Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta, had yet to examine the result of the employees' blood tests which can be used to identified the exact cause of their illness.

On Wednesday, at lest 20 employees of the branch of France- based Carrefour, were taken to the hospital after complaining of severe headaches and nausea. It was the second such incident since early November where 45 employees required treatment.

The store's manager had been questioned by the Central Jakarta police over the incident and on Friday the police checked the condition of its air circulation system.

After Wednesday's incident, Ratu Plaza Carrefour -- which is located in the basement parking area -- was forced to close for an indefinite period, pending the police investigation into the two cases to find out who is responsible.

Carrefour has two other branches in the capital which are located in basement locales, one at Mal Ambassador shopping center in Kuningan, South Jakarta, and another at Cempaka Mas shopping center in East Jakarta. But no such incidents have ever occurred in those. --JP