Concerns are rising over possible bus service disruptions after bus drivers who used the company cafeteria at the public bus depot on Yeongjongdo in Incheon showed suspected mass food poisoning symptoms.
According to Incheon City on the 25th, among 136 people, including bus drivers, who used the company cafeteria at the Yeongjong area public bus depot in Unbuk-dong, Jung District, on the 21st, there were successive reports starting on the 22nd, the following day, of suspected food poisoning symptoms such as stomach pain and diarrhea. Fifty suspected patients have been identified so far, and five of them are reportedly hospitalized.
Incheon City expects that, due to the suspected food poisoning incident, service disruptions will occur on five of the 14 routes departing from the depot on the 26th. Buses expected to be affected that day are estimated at five in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The transport operator said in a notice, "We apologize to the drivers who were hospitalized due to the unforeseen incident," and added, "Although the Yeongjong depot cafeteria is a facility operated by Incheon City under commission, we will make every effort to resolve the situation."
Incheon City plans to conduct an epidemiological investigation on the 27th and is also reviewing whether to suspend cafeteria operations and the possibility of applying food liability insurance.