36 children hospitalized in Ukraine over suspected poisoning

KIEV, May 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 36 children were hospitalized Monday with symptoms of poisoning after being exposed to unknown substance sprayed in their school in Ukraine's southern city of Mykolayiv, local authorities said.

Eugene Shevchenko, deputy head of Mykolayiv regional administration, wrote on Facebook that two children were taken to the intensive care of the local hospitals.

The affected children showed such symptoms as coughing, eye tearing and nausea, Shevchenko said.

The State Service for Emergencies said later that about 380 people had been evacuated from the school in the wake of the accident.

The occurrence marked the second similar emergency in Ukraine in less than two weeks.

On May 8, 54 children and four teachers were sent to hospital with symptoms of poisoning in the city of Cherkassy in central Ukraine. It is still unclear what caused the symptoms. Enditem