"The chemical pollution crisis at Sungai Kim Kim, which began last Thursday, worsened last night, as toxic fumes forced dozens more people to seek treatment at hospitals in the area. According to Bernama, the number of victims suffering breathing difficulties and vomiting from exposure to the chemical pollution, which had been mysteriously dumped in the river, rose to 207. 44 victims of the first incident on Thursday are still in hospital, with six still in the ICU.
Update 13 Mar: From media articles - "A total of 13 schools around the area affected by the chemical pollution in Pasir Gudang will be closed indefinitely beginning 13 Mar. Fishermen in the area are claiming that the thick sludge in the water is causing their boat engines to fail and they have to row their boats out to sea. Meanwhile, state Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal said that the matter was getting from bad to worse."
From The Star 13 Mar 19 |
Update 14 Mar: Headlines from media articles -
- All schools in Pasir Gudang ordered to close immediately
- Pasir Gudang fuming: Total of 111 schools closed
- 506 victims of toxic fumes recorded today
- Johor MB: Situation under control, no need to declare state of emergency
- No move yet to declare sungai Kim Kim a disaster zone
- Second, third wave of toxic fumes could have been avoided, says Bomba chief
- Winds cause second wave of pollution
- Suspect in chemical dumping case to be charged tomorrow
- Illegal tyre recycling factory boss to be charged today
From The Star, 14 Mar 2019 |
Update 14 Mar, 5pm: From Singapore media articles - "We understand that the clean-up operation by the Malaysian authorities is in progress. The affected area is outside of the Johor River catchment, and there is no impact on Singapore’s water supply," said the statement. "SCDF, NEA and PUB have not detected any anomalies in our local air and water quality. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority has been working with our farmers to monitor the situation and no anomalies or fish mortality have been observed at our fish farms."
Update 15 Mar
Singapore headlines
OBS stops water activities after Johor chemical dumping incident
Malaysia headlines
- Clearing chemical waste for Sg Kim Kim a priority for now
- 2.43 tonnes of chemical waste collected from Sungai Kim Kim on first day
- First contractor had no expertise in cleaning up chemical waste
- Numbers rise: 2,775 people affected by Pasir Gudang chemical pollution
- Village folk cry foul over river pollution
- Polluted river nothing new
- Experts warn of serious long-term health effects
- Pasir Gudang chemical spill: 6 things you need to know
- Malaysia: Johor toxic waste incident under control - Mahathir
- ‘No need to declare disaster area’
- Toxic fumes: DPM to be in Pasir Gudang today
- Army sends CBRN unit to assist operations at site of chemical pollution in Pasir Gudang
- Ministries sending aid to Pasir Gudang
- Environment Ministry mobilises resources from other states to help in Pasir Gudang
- Lotte Chemical Titan providing assistance over Pasir Gudang pollution
- Prosecution postponed in Johor chemical waste dumping case
- Johor Sultan pledges RM1 million to address Pasir Gudang crisis
- Johor Ruler wants MB to form committee to handle chemical pollution
- Mercy Malaysia calls on medical volunteers
Update 16 Mar
Singapore headlines
- Punggol, Yishun residents complain of 'strange smells'
Malaysia headlines
- Another 780 people affected, with 113 warded in Pasir Gudang chemical crisis
- Johor waiting for toxicology report to see if cyanide also in Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste
- 'Toxic fumes contain acrylonitrile'
- Pasir Gudang chemical spill: Facts about the 9 chemicals found and their health impact
- Pasir Gudang residents lament lack of information on methane poisoning, vow to sue
- Life goes on in Kg Paya, but with precautions
- 'Toxic waste dumping going on for years'
- Officials not taking chances with air quality
More Malaysian headlines
- Fire and Rescue Dept has stationed 133 Hazmat personnel in Pasir Gudang
- Teams deployed to monitor Sungai Kim Kim for contamination
- TMJ: District should have been placed under emergency
- Johor govt welcomes face mask donations from other states
Update 17 Mar
"Pasir Gudang methane poisoning: What we know so far"
Channel NewsAsia 16 Mar 19;
Malaysian headlines
- Schools in Pasir Gudang still closed
- Majority of new cases at Pasir Gudang medic base due to anxiety and panic
- Air quality good over Pasir Gudang but public advised to continue to use masks
- 15 types of chemicals found in air samples
- Cleaning up works at Sungai Kim Kim progressing smoothly
Malaysia: Chemical waste pollution in Sg Kim Kim affects livelihood of fishermen
The Star 17 Mar 19;
Update 18 Mar
Singapore headlines
- Singapore remains unaffected by chemical spill incident in Pasir Gudang: Authorities
Malaysia headlines
- Cleaning up of 1.5km-stretch of Sungai Kim Kim over
- 1,250 tonnes of soil, water and sludge removed from polluted river, says Johor Health Dept
- 450 tonnes of chemicals removed from Pasir Gudang, monitoring continues until Wednesday (March 20)
- Hydrogen cyanide level in Sungai Kim Kim too low to pose threat
- 143 victims of chemical waste contamination still hospitalised
- We’ve leads on toxic dump suspects, says IGP
- Dumping still taking place
Update 19 Mar
Malaysia headlines
- Schools in Pasir Gudang to remain closed
- Air quality in Pasir Gudang improving
- 119 patients discharged from Johor hospitals
- Nine arrested over toxic pollution
- Factories suffering millions in losses
Two new dumpsite found, Malaysia headlines
- Two more chemical waste dump sites found in Pasir Gudang
- DoE to probe alleged chemical waste dumping in Masai, says Johor MB
- More dumpsites found
- ‘Use licensed contractors to clean up’
One dumpsite was at Sungai Masai, opposite Seletar and Punggol.
The other dumpsite was 500m away from SMK Tanjung Puteri Resort.
Update 20 Mar
Singapore headlines
- Singapore continues to monitor situation in Pasir Gudang as more illegal dumping found
Malaysia headlines
- Sg Kim Kim free of toxic pollution
- 73 patients discharged, 22 new cases
- Fish samples tested for contamination
More Malaysia headlines
- Govt working on stiffer punishment following Pasir Gudang toxic fumes incident
- Pasir Gudang toxic spill mastermind being identified
- Two held for transporting toxic material
Update 21 Mar
Singapore
- Residents in Yishun & Punggol complain of urine-like smell, likely from Johor
Malaysia
- Satellite data shows Pasir Gudang has 46 possible illegal dumping grounds
- No toxic gas detected at 46 sites
- Health Ministry: Almost 6,000 sought treatment over Sungai Kim Kim pollution
- Health Ministry set to undertake cohort study on Sungai Kim Kim pollution victims
- Lotte Chemical denies rumours of its involvement in Sg Kim Kim pollution
More Malaysia headlines
- Guideline review for factories handling hazardous chemicals
- Stiffer penalties for polluters
Update 22 Mar
Malaysia headlines
- Pasir Gudang toxic spill clean-up to cost over RM10mil
Update 23 Mar
Malaysia headlines
- All 111 schools in Pasir Gudang to re-open on March 31
- DOE to keep monitoring air quality near Sungai Kim Kim
- Results of fish samples from Pasir Gudang ready next week, says Johor Fisheries director
- Cops seek remand extension for suspects in Sg Kim Kim pollution crisis
- Dumpsite discovered at Taman Bukit Kempas
Update 24 Mar
Media headlines
- Singapore’s help sought to find Sungai Kim Kim pollution suspect
- Singaporean among three charged over Sungai Kim Kim pollution
- Pasir Gudang chemical spill: Singaporean among three charged over pollution of river
Update 26 Mar
Media headlines
- 3 charged over Sg Kim Kim pollution
- Directors claim trial to river pollution
- Sg Kim Kim pollution: Wang, Yap plead not guilty to a further 15 charges
- No decision yet on compensation for river pollution victims
- Johor Sultan orders probe into pollution of Benut, Machap rivers
- Johor DoE: Pasir Gudang used tyre factory sealed on March 11