Carrefour still closed

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