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Sunday, January 21, 2007
Carbon monoxide eyed as cause of poisoning at ferry
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A local health official said there is high probability that carbon monoxide poisoning had caused the death of two people and hospitalization of eight others who were suffocated inside the cargo hold of a ferry at the local wharf.
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The victims, two of them declared dead on arrival, were rushed to hospitals after they fell unconscious upon entering the cargo hold of M/V KC Beatrice that dropped anchor on Thursday after arriving from Jolo, Sulu.
"It could be carbon monoxide poisoning," said City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos.
"A carbon monoxide poisoning was just a probable cause. It is not a definitive diagnosis," Agbulos said though.
He said they have extracted blood samples from the two dead victims and shipped to the Department of Health central office for laboratory analysis.
What makes Agbulos to initially say carbon monoxide poisoning caused it was that the cargoes were kept in a non-ventilated place.
The boat was then loaded with tons of copra, seaweed and abaca that came from Jolo.
Once copra and seaweed decay, it produces carbon monoxide, which, if inhaled, causes organ failure that could lead to sudden death, according to Agbulos.
He said there was a high content of carbon monoxide at the non-ventilated cargo hold of the ferry at the time of the incident since there was no oxygen going in.
The health officer said the victims should have waited for quite sometime before entering the ferry's cargo hold after it was opened so that there would be enough oxygen inside.
Local cargo handling firm operations supervisor Sakili Dimarunsing said the standard operating procedure is to leave the cargo hold open for an hour to let fresh air into ferry's lower deck before unloading the cargoes.
Ben Capito and Efren Ladjapailu immediately entered the cargo hold that day, as they were ordered by the seaweed owner to get samples of his product.
The eight others were suffocated after they rushed into the cargo hold to pull out Capito and Ladjapailu when they saw them fell unconscious.
Agbulos said two of the eight hospitalized are still confined at the Zamboanga City Medical Center while the rest were already sent home.
He said they are still awaiting the laboratory analysis result to determine the real cause of the incident. (Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (January 21, 2007 issue)
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