Chemical leak sickens 47 in Davao

DAVAO CITY – At least 47 individuals – including children – fell ill from a chemical leak in Kilometer 9, Barangay Sasa, here on Monday, authorities said Tuesday.

Senior Insp. Ma. Teresita Gaspan, the city police spokesperson, said it was about 4:25 p.m. when residents of Purok Senior Sto. Niño in Sasa Riverside started complaining of an obnoxious odor.

They got sick and were immediately aided and evacuated by personnel of the Central 911.

Gaspan said investigators later found at least 15 bottles of Jalem 500 EC, an agricultural chemical that have been shallowly buried inside a private compound.

It was determined that a member of the family formerly worked for a feeds company.

Gaspan said one of the bottles got broken and leaked its contents.

Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, Southern Mindanao police spokesperson, said the chemicals had been retrieved and were sealed in a garbage bin before being sent to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) here for proper disposal.

“All victims are now safe and stable,” Driz said. /cbb