1 Of 83 Victims Of Rice Poisoning At A Religious Event In West Bandung Has Died

A number of poisoned residents were evacuated to a mosque in Cilangari Village, Gununghalu District, West Bandung Regency, West Java. (ANTARA/Personal Documentation)

BANDUNG - A resident who was poisoned by boxed rice during a religious activity in Cilangsari Village, Gunung Halu District, West Bandung Regency, West Java, has been declared dead.

A resident named Rahmat (63) is one of the 83 victims of boxed rice poisoning. Rahmat died at the Cililin Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Monday 13 February evening.

"The victim who died has now been buried," said the Head of Cilangari Village, Sobana when contacted in Bandung, West Java, Tuesday, February 14, as reported by Antara.

He said, the victim died allegedly started from eating boxed rice during a religious event on Saturday 11 February.

According to him, Rahmat previously underwent treatment at the Gununghalu Health Center. However, because his condition was getting worse, the victim was referred to the Cililin Hospital.

Previously, the Head of the Environmental Health Section of the West Bandung District Health Office, Mawaddah, said that her party was still investigating in detail the cause of the poisoning of dozens of residents.

Residents who were poisoned experienced a number of symptoms, including nausea, dizziness, increased body temperature (high), vomiting, to diarrhea.

She said the boxed rice consumed by residents contained white rice, fried chicken, stir-fried vermicelli, and potato-fried chili sauce.

According to her, samples of the boxed rice meal had been brought in for testing. "We can't make assumptions. The exact cause is waiting for the laboratory results to come out," said Mawaddah.