24 taken ill after leak of chlorine

KIDAPAWAN CITY—At least two dozen people landed in hospitals in President Roxas town following a chlorine gas leak believed to be from a nearby water reservoir late last week, a town official said.

Mario Calayco, chair of President Roxas’ Barangay Poblacion, said among those who experienced nausea, shortness of breath and vomiting were children and the elderly.

The residents lived a few meters from the water reservoir operated by the local water utility being run by the town government, Calayco said.

Dr. Dominic Laus, President Roxas health chief, said most of the victims had gone home already.

Laus said the chlorine leak damaged trees, rubber seedlings and grasses that are within the area of the water reservoir.

In this city, at least nine workers of a geothermal facility were also taken to hospital after inhaling gas from a pipe during tests.

The workers experienced nausea and vomiting. All the workers are now out of danger, according to officials in the city.

The Energy Development Corp., which owns the pipe, said the workers were part of a crew “doing regular activity of discharging a well” when the accident happened. Carlo Agamon and Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao