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The Department of Education is advising parents that it is immediately closing the Lew Muckle Elementary School after complaints that students were being affected by the strong gaseous odor.
Lew Muckle Elementary School is the ninth school to be closed today as a result of a strong odor permeating the air of a large area of St. Croix. The Department of Education announced the closure of eight other schools this morning, which include:
- Ricardo Richards Elementary School
- Claude O Markoe Elementary School
- Alexander Henderson Elementary School
- Evelyn Williams Elementary School
- Eulalie Rivera Elementary School
- Alfredo Andrews Elementary School
- Arthur A. Richards Junior High
- Educational Complex High School
In addition the Department of Education, on Thursday, announced the St. Croix Central High School, Charles H. Emmanuel Elementary School and John H. Woodson Junior High School would close today. This is a total of 12 schools closed in the district.
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s 911 Emergency Communications Center received calls in the early morning hours on Friday, from residents at Frederiksted complaining of strong gaseous odor in the air.
The Department of Health has been notified and is advising Frederiksted residents with compromised immune systems to stay indoors as much as possible, to close windows and use a fan, to keep medications nearby and to seek medical care if they feel ill as a result of the strong odor.
VITEMA also issued public health advisories via VI Alert to St. Croix residents registered for the free service.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources also is currently responding to the complaints and is scheduled to meet with Hovensa this morning.
The community will be informed as more information becomes available.
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