Malaysia closes 34 schools following suspected chemical leak
Malaysia has shut 34 schools after a suspected chemical leak last week in the southern state of Johor left more than 200 children, teachers and others being treated for poisoning, the Ministry of Education announced on March 13.
Victims of the suspected chemical leak in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia's Johor state, receive first aid (Photo: Bernama/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Malaysia has shut 34 schools after a suspectedchemical leak last week in the southern state of Johor left more than 200children, teachers and others being treated for poisoning, the Ministry ofEducation announced on March 13.
Malaysian authorities believed the poisoning was caused by toxic waste dumpedinto a river near the schools in Johor.
"Unfortunately, I was told today that the situation is getting morecritical," Minister of Education Maszlee Malik said in a statement on hisofficial Facebook page.
The number of people treated climbed to 207 compared to 35 reported lastweek. By March 11, 44 were in hospital, 33 of them are pupils.
The minister ordered all schools within a three-kilometre radius to beshut immediately.
According to rescuers and firefighters, most of the victims are studentsand kitcheners, aged between 7-40, of the two affected schools.
Earlier, local authorities were forced to evacuate over 1,000 people,mostly school students, after chemicals were illegally dumped in a river neartwo schools in Pasir Gudang.-VNA
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Victims of the suspected chemical leak in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia's Johor state, receive first aid (Photo: Bernama/VNA) 
