KOTA KINABALU: Firemen responded to another mercury spill, this time at the PETRONAS Aviation Terminal, MAS Cargo Road, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, here.
No casualties were reported.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the distress call was received at 6.50am about a mercury spill from a broken thermometer, and the fire team of five men arrived seven minutes later.
Equipped in full protective gear, firefighters cleaned the mercury spill using a chemical binder before placing waste in a plastic bag.
“We handed the waste to the building’s safety team for disposal,” said the spokesman.
After confirming that there was no further risk, the operation concluded at 7.18am.
Meanwhile, in Tuaran, an emergency call was received from the family members of an 80-year-old man who failed to return home after leaving home at Kampung Sinulihan on Tuesday (Aug 20).
The victim, Akun Kalawot, who is reportedly senile, was last seen by neighbours walking towards the forest area.
“Family members and villagers searched for the victim for five hours from 5.30pm, and when they failed to locate him, they contacted the police in the wee Thursday morning to request assistance from relevant agencies,” the spokesman said.
A team of six firemen responded to a distress call at 7.12am and proceeded to the scene, located some 50km away from the station.
“A search and rescue operation is ongoing to locate the missing person,” the spokesman said.
