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Filipinos Hospitalized After Inhaling Toxic Fumes

by Medindia Content Team on Nov 28 2006 8:48 PM

Around 60 people were hospitalised Tuesday after inhaling hazardous chemicals dumped into a stream just outside the Philippine capital, said a police official said.

About 3,000 residents from five villages in Marilao town in Bulacan province have been temporarily evacuated to prevent them from inhaling the fumes, said Superintendent Edwin Aquilates.

The victims vomited and complained of chest pain, dizziness and nausea.

Aquilates said police have arrested the driver of a tanker and his helper suspected of dumping the foul-smelling chemical, believed to be used for cleaning liquefied petroleum gas tanks.

"The two suspects will be charged for violating environmental laws," he told a local radio station.

Witnesses positively identified the white tanker truck driven by the suspects as the one they saw dumping its contents in the stream before dawn.

Aquilates added that police were still determining the liability of the truck's owner.

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Source-IANS
SRM


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