School clerks hospitalised after suspected ammonia leak in Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: Three clerks of a primary school here were rushed to hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties and vomiting believed due to inhalation of ammonia gas.

Sabah Education director Datuk Raisin Saidin said the incident at 1.30pm on Tuesday (Sept 10) involved only three female clerks at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Likas, adding no teachers and pupils were reported to have experienced similar symptoms.

He added two of the clerks received treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital I (QEH1) while the other at QEH2.

“A leak believed to be ammonia gas was reported to have happened at the school’s general office,” he said, in a statement late Tuesday.

“Only three clerks at the office were affected and were sent to hospital after they felt sick and experienced breathing difficulties and vomiting. They are reported to be in stable condition,” Raisin added.

He said the school sought help from the Fire and Rescue Department’s Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) unit to monitor the situation at the school.

The Hazmat team, he said, however found the air reading at the scene to be normal.

“The team did not find any radiation or a chemical leak,” he said.

Raisin said the Hazmat team had confirmed the air quality at SK Likas to be safe and under control but that they instructed for the office to be let open for the night.

He said the incident did not affect the classes, adding, however, the school has been ordered to ensure the safety of the pupils, teachers and other workforce were secured.