JOHOR BARU: A chemical spill has forced the evacuation of five houses in Kampung Baru Sri Aman here as two women were rushed to hospitals on Tuesday (Sept 14).

       Johor Fire and Rescue Department hazardous materials unit chief Saiful Bahri Safar said they received a distress call at around 10.22pm on Tuesday and a team arrived some 15 minutes later.

       "The two victims, in their 20s and 40s, were sent to Sultan Ismail Hospital and Sultanah Aminah Hospital by Emergency Medical Response Services (EMRS) due to breathing difficulties," he said

       "We have done detection, isolation and damping in the river and found that there was a chemical spill in the creek area, " he said at the location on Tuesday night.

       Saiful Bahri said initial tests found a chemical, suspected to be methyl alcohol, at concentrations of 120 ppm (parts per million).

       He said they directed villagers from five houses located some 150m away from the river to vacate their houses and move to a public hall.

       "For now, we are trying to control this area and are continuing to track the source of this spill, "he added.

       He also said 24 firemen and five fire engines from the Kempas, Larkin and Johor Jaya fire stations were deployed to the scene.

       As of 2.30am Wednesday (Sept 15), spill detection efforts are continuing and assistance has been requested from the Environment Department (DoE) and Melaka hazardous materials unit.