29 people taken to hospital after chlorine gas leak at London's Olympic Park pool
March 24, 2022, 8:29 am

29 people taken to hospital after chlorine gas leak at London's Olympic Park pool

Olympic stadium in London, UK (File photo: Pixabay)

The Channel News Asia reporte, UK emergency services said that more than 25 people were taken to hospital on Wednesday (Mar 23) after a leak of a high quantity of chlorine gas at the swimming pool used for the London Olympics.

The London Fire Brigade said that around 200 people had been evacuated after it was called at around 0945 GMT to the east London park, which hosted Summer Olympics events 10 years ago.

London Fire Brigade said in a statement: "Due to a chemical reaction, a high quantity of chlorine gas was released. London Ambulance Service are treating a number of patients."

"While we ventilate the premises we would ask those residents in the immediate vicinity to close doors and windows."

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which manages the park, said the immediate area had been cordoned off.

Emergency crews and vehicles are pictured outside the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following a leak of noxious fumes, in London, Britain March 23, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

London Ambulance described it as a major incident and said they had sent 13 ambulance crews as well as several other teams in response. Ambulances took 29 patients to hospital and a further 48 were assessed at the scene.

It said in a statement: "The majority of patients were reporting minor breathing difficulties."

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The Aquatics Centre said the gas leak occurred when the facilities management company that operates the plant room took delivery of pool chemicals.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was built for the 2012 Games in London.

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The Aquatics Centre was opened to the public in 2014.

Source: cna

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.