Huge chlorine leak at Olympic Park swimming pool 'sparked by delivery of chemicals': 200 people are evacuated with a 'number of casualties' battling for breath after 'major incident' at Stratford Aquatics Centre
A bungled delivery of a lorry load of chlorine to the London 2012 Aquatics Centre today sparked a 'chemical reaction' that led to deadly gas being pumped out leaving casualties struggling to breathe and locals ordered to keep windows and doors shut.
More than 200 people have been evacuated from the sports arena and surrounding businesses and building sites in the capital's Olympic Park in east London with people who breathed in the noxious substance treated in the car park.
One person was treated on a paramedic's gurney while multiple swimmers, still in their trunks and goggles, were seen being cared wrapped in foil blankets to keep them warm.
London Fire Brigade said a 'high quantity of chlorine gas' was released inside the Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London due to a 'chemical reaction'. The Aquatics Centre said the incident happened 'when the facilities management company that operates the plant room took delivery of pool chemicals'.
Pictures from the scene showed a blue lorry with tanks of hydrochloric acid abandoned outside shortly after the incident. It is not known what happened next, but for safety reasons, experts recommend that hydrochloric acid and pool chlorine should never be stored together - and should absolutely never, ever be mixed, under any circumstances - because they can cause the release of chlorine gas.
Chlorine gas, a substance so deadly it has been used as a weapon of war, can be fatal if breathed in. It also causes shortness of breath, blurred vision, burning pain in the nose, eyes and throat and and blisters on the skin.
The Aquatics Centre, yards from West Ham United's world famous London Stadium, is being ventilated and the Mayor of London has urged people to avoid the area.
'Due to a chemical reaction a high quantity of chlorine gas was released. London Ambulance Service are treating a number of patients', a London Fire Brigade spokesman said.
He added: 'Around 200 people were evacuated from the centre. While we ventilate the premises we would ask those residents in the immediate vicinity to close doors and windows'.
The London Ambulance Service were called the the Olympic Park in east London at just before 10am after a noxious substance leaked into the building containing the swimming pool and diving area.
People described suffering headaches and struggling to breathe because of the fumes. Some were seen lying on their backs on the pavement.
A spokesman for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park tweeted: 'There has been an incident @AquaticsCentre this morning involving the release of a gas.
'The area has been cordoned off and evacuated. We're working with emergency services on site. There are a number of casualties with breathing difficulties being treated by @Ldn_Ambulance'.
Pictures from the scene showed more than 20 ambulances and three fire engines outside the sealed off building being supported by police. Footage filmed from helicopter showed paramedics treating people in the car park outside.
Police evacuated the swimming pool and cordoned off the surrounding area in Stratford, East London at around 10am.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Officers were alerted by London Fire Brigade at 9.53am on Wednesday to a leak of noxious fumes at the Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Park, E20.
'Officers and London Ambulance Service have also attended the scene. A number of people have been evacuated from the premises.'
The London Ambulance Service sent multiple resources in response to the incident.
A spokesman tweeted: 'We are responding to an incident at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and have a number of resources on scene.'
More than 200 people have been evacuated from the sports arena and surrounding businesses and building sites in the capital's Olympic Park in east London with people who breathed in the noxious substance treated in the car park.
One person was treated on a paramedic's gurney while multiple swimmers, still in their trunks and goggles, were seen being cared wrapped in foil blankets to keep them warm.
London Fire Brigade said a 'high quantity of chlorine gas' was released inside the Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London due to a 'chemical reaction'. The Aquatics Centre said the incident happened 'when the facilities management company that operates the plant room took delivery of pool chemicals'.
Pictures from the scene showed a blue lorry with tanks of hydrochloric acid abandoned outside shortly after the incident. It is not known what happened next, but for safety reasons, experts recommend that hydrochloric acid and pool chlorine should never be stored together - and should absolutely never, ever be mixed, under any circumstances - because they can cause the release of chlorine gas.
Chlorine gas, a substance so deadly it has been used as a weapon of war, can be fatal if breathed in. It also causes shortness of breath, blurred vision, burning pain in the nose, eyes and throat and and blisters on the skin.
The Aquatics Centre, yards from West Ham United's world famous London Stadium, is being ventilated and the Mayor of London has urged people to avoid the area.
'Due to a chemical reaction a high quantity of chlorine gas was released. London Ambulance Service are treating a number of patients', a London Fire Brigade spokesman said.
He added: 'Around 200 people were evacuated from the centre. While we ventilate the premises we would ask those residents in the immediate vicinity to close doors and windows'.
The London Ambulance Service were called the the Olympic Park in east London at just before 10am after a noxious substance leaked into the building containing the swimming pool and diving area.
People described suffering headaches and struggling to breathe because of the fumes. Some were seen lying on their backs on the pavement.
A spokesman for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park tweeted: 'There has been an incident @AquaticsCentre this morning involving the release of a gas.
'The area has been cordoned off and evacuated. We're working with emergency services on site. There are a number of casualties with breathing difficulties being treated by @Ldn_Ambulance'.
Pictures from the scene showed more than 20 ambulances and three fire engines outside the sealed off building being supported by police. Footage filmed from helicopter showed paramedics treating people in the car park outside.
Police evacuated the swimming pool and cordoned off the surrounding area in Stratford, East London at around 10am.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Officers were alerted by London Fire Brigade at 9.53am on Wednesday to a leak of noxious fumes at the Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Park, E20.
'Officers and London Ambulance Service have also attended the scene. A number of people have been evacuated from the premises.'
The London Ambulance Service sent multiple resources in response to the incident.
A spokesman tweeted: 'We are responding to an incident at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and have a number of resources on scene.'
Pictures showed multiple police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines parked near the 114-metre slide at ArcelorMittal Orbit.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged Londoners to avoid the area while he liaised with emergency services.
He wrote on Twitter: 'I remain in close contact with our emergency services who are dealing with a gas-related incident at the London Aquatics Centre this morning.
'A number of people are being treated by @Ldn-Ambulance. Please avoid the area which has been cordoned off and evacuated.'
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