More than 200 primary school students in Sichuan Province fell ill after an
unidentified gas leaked into their classrooms yesterday morning, authorities
said.
Primary students receive treatment after possible poisoning
by an unidentified gas at a hospital in Yingjing County, Ya'an City,
Southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 21, 2007. 208 students were
sent to hospitals for checkups, and 21 were reported to be in serious
condition. Another 176 were also hospitalized for further observation,
Xinhua news agency said.[Xinhua]
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Twenty-one were reported to be in serious condition.
The gas leak occurred at the Xinmiao Township Primary School in Ya'an City.
Students noticed a foul smell around 9am, and many began experiencing headaches,
vomiting and chest pains, said a city government spokesman.
Three ambulances were sent to the school to take sick students and teachers
to hospitals, and the county government also offered vehicles.
A total of 208 students were sent to two hospitals for checkups and
observation, and 176 were admitted for treatment.
At Xingjing People's Hospital, which had admitted 90 patients by 6pm, the
wards were crowded with sick students and their parents late yesterday.
"I smelled something weird at around 9am, and then I felt stomach cramps and
got a headache and wanted to vomit," said Li Xiong, a 12-year-old student who
was undergoing treatment.
Hospital officials said the students might have inhaled a mixture of carbon
monoxide and sulfureted hydrogen leaking from nearby factories.
An electrolytic zinc plant and a lead and zinc plant were ordered to stop
production for inspection, a city government spokesman said.