130 workers faint in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH: At least 130 garment workers were hospitalised Monday in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province as they fainted after inhaling insecticide, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

The incident occurred at a garments factory in Samrong Tong district, some 50 km from capital Phnom Penh.

"The accident happened due to the carelessness of the factory’ s management," said Chuon Mon Thol, president of Cambodia’s confederation of trade unions. "They sprayed pesticides in the factory just a few hours before the workers entered the factory hall to work, so the smell caused them to fall ill."

The workers felt fatigue, dizziness and nausea.

Keo Pisei, the provincial police chief, who said the victims were now stable and some had left hospitals, confirmed Tuesday that the mass fainting occurred due to the smell of the pesticide.