10 bus passengers hospitalized due to chemical leak

A total of 10 passengers were rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center on Tuesday after being exposed to a chemical which leaked inside a bus.

Passengers of the Jayross Lucky Seven Tours bus started smelling something unusual while traversing along Commonwealth Avenue at 5 p.m. Tuesday, a report by Jamie Santos on Saksi on Tuesday said.

Bus driver Jose Peñaranda said he had chest pains when he was exposed to the smell.

“Parang gumuguhit sa dibdib ‘yung amoy, kakaiba siya. Umuubo na ako sa loob,” Peñaranda said.

The passengers had to smash the windows of the bus to let the fumes out.

Investigation showed the chemical leak came from a bleaching agent belonging to one of the passengers identified as Genelyn Callao.

“‘Yung isang babae may dalang bag na mayroong oxalic acid. 'Yun po ‘yung nangamoy sa loob ng bus,” Supt. Robert Sales of Quezon City Police District Station 6 said.

Callao was also brought to the hospital.

Jayross Lucky Seven Tours’ liaison officer said the company will not press any charges or require settlement from Callao despite the inconveniences the incident brought.

The bus was turned over to the Quezon City Police District Station 6.

The bleaching agent was given to the police crime lab to be further tested and examined. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KG, GMA News