More than 1,300 hospitalised in Philippines after eating poisonous durian sweets
More than 1,300 schoolchildren were rushed to hospitals after eating allegedly poisonous durian sweets in a southern Philippine province, China's Xinhua news agency reported the police as saying on Saturday.
The victims were mostly elementary students from nine towns who complained of dizziness and vomiting, and were rushed to hospitals shortly after eating locally-made durian sweets on Friday, said Liza Mazo, chief of the Office of Civil Defense in Mindanao's Caraga region.
At least 12 people were arrested after witnesses positively identified them as the ones who sold the sweets to different schools in Surigao del Sur province, said regional police spokesperson Martin Gamba.
Officials said at least 1,350 school children and teachers had been affected by the mass poisoning in the towns of Tago, Tagbina, Cagwait, Tandag, Marihatag, San Agustin, Carrascal, Cortes and Madrid.
Gamba said the suspects were now detained by police while cases were being readied against them.