Porridge downs 80 persons

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — At least 80 individuals were hospitalized after eating porridge mixed with wild yams in Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Friday.

The victims reportedly experienced vomiting, stomach ache and nausea after eating porridge mixed with yams locally known as kayos, according to Wally Afuang, chief of the city disaster risk reduction management council.

The yams reportedly came from a man who harvested the crop on Thursday and distributed these to his friends in the villages of Rizal and Heneral Luna as well as in Barangay 2.

The victims were taken to the Lopez District Foundation Hospital, Alfredo Marañon Sr. Memorial Hospital and Sagay City Hospital for treatment.

Forty-nine of the victims were confined and the rest were discharged shortly after receiving treatment.

The city government shouldered the medical expenses of the victims, according to Mayor Alfredo Marañon III.

The victims will be given food packs as soon as they will be released from the hospitals, Marañon said.

Health experts said the variety of yam that the victims consumed is poisonous if not properly prepared.