KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 190 students at a school in northern Malaysia have been rushed to hospital since last Friday and treated for suspected food poisoning, a local newspaper reported on Monday.

    These students were from the school at Sungai Petani, the second largest town in the state of Kedah and they were sent to hospital over the past three days due to diarrhoea and stomach ache after eating food at the school canteen, the New Straits Times said.

    On Sunday alone, 62 students were rushed to hospital after having breakfast at the school cafeteria, the English-language newspaper said.

    The incident began occurring on Friday when 55 students at the school hostel went to hospital after having chicken rice prepared by the school canteen.

    Although none of the students were in danger, but the incident drew significant concerns, the newspaper said.

    Currently, the local authorities have ordered to close down the canteen in the school and investigation on the accident was under way.

    Local health officials urged canteen operators to observe hygiene rules.