Firemen overcome by methane gas in sewage tank rescue op

MALACCA: Eight firemen were rushed to hospital last night following methane gas inhalation while trying to save a Bangladeshi construction worker who had fallen into a sewage tank in Kampung Cina here.
The firemen, aged between 20 and 40, had descended into the 4.5m deep tank at a construction site at about 11pm to rescue the 36-year-old worker who was found dead, apparently after having inhaled the methane gas.
Malacca Fire and Rescue Department deputy superintendent (operations) Kamarulzaman Mohd Din said the firemen were quickly hauled out of the tank and administered first aid by paramedics before being taken to the Malacca Hospital.
"Our personnel had put on the necessary equipment for the operation in the tank but they were overcome by the strong air pressure and the methane gas," he told reporters at the location.
Kamarulzaman said members of a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Management team removed the body of the Bangladeshi worker from the tank at about 1.30am.
Malacca Tengah Police chief ACP Shaikh Abdul Adzis Shaikh Abdullah said the body was taken to the Malacca Hospital.
He said the police were notified that a construction worker had fallen into the sewage tank.
The case had been classified as sudden death, he added. — Bernama