Article: Gas from dead fish killed six

Wednesday August 19, 2009

SHAH ALAM: The death of six men in Tanjung Karang last week was due to inhalation of poisonous gases from decomposing fish and not ammonia gas, an initial investigation found.

State New Village Development and Illegal Factory Task Force Committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah said a preliminary report from the Selangor Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) showed that a large volume of poisonous gas had built up from decomposing fish.

He said DOSH found that due to faulty refrigeration, the decomposing fish emitted chlorodifluoromethane gas, which suffocated and killed the men at the jetty in Kg Bagan Pasir.

The six people died on Aug 11 in the incident which was initially believed to be due to an ammonia gas leak from a faulty refrigeration system.

Three other Bangladeshi workers, who also suffered from the effects of the gas leak, were warded at the Tanjung Karang Hospital.

Residents from 15 houses within 100m of the jetty where the incident occurred had to be evacuated for several hours.

Ean Yong said regular inspections at all jetties along coastal towns in the state would be conducted and guidelines introduced to ensure no recurrence of the incident.

"Fishermen and jetty operators have come forward to DOSH to help it draw up and introduce new safety measures," he said, adding that the final report by DOSH on the incident would be completed in a week's time.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 19 August 2009