Thirty-three workers of a South Korean company in Ho Chi Minh City were hospitalised yesterday, after they showed symptoms of gas poisoning during lunchtime.

One of the workers of Likelion Company being examined in Quan 9 Hospital. — Photo sggp.org.vn

The workers of Likelion Company in District 9 were rushed in ambulances to Quan 9 (District 9) Hospital and Quan dan mien Dong (Eastern Region Army-People) Hospital with the symptoms of difficulty in breathing, nausea and headache.

After being put on a drip and given oxygen to improve their breathing, almost all of the workers were discharged from hospital.

Cao Thi Thanh Van, a representative of the company, said it was probable the workers inhaled paint from an adjacent workshop that was being repaired and repainted.

She said the workers were wearing face masks in the morning, while working. When they removed the face masks to eat at lunchtime, they developed the symptoms and fainted.

After the incident, the Centre for Preventive Health of District 9 visited the company to collect samples of the food the workers had eaten.

It is investigating the cause of the incident.