GUASTALLA (Reggio Emilia) – Over eighty visits to the emergency room. About half in Guastalla, the remainder in Reggio and Montecchio. At least forty other unfortunates, with a principle of intoxication, were treated on site. The tense situation involved the area east of the center of Guastalla. It was ten minutes to 8 whenor a cloud of asphyxiating gas has developed at the back of the swimming pools. Swimming pools which, together with the bar and adjacent premises such as the Rita restaurant and the sports hall, were evacuated. The respective users and workers of these activities were the first to receive the help sent by 118. At the same time, the firefighters and the police intervened.
Guastalla, teachers and students: “Unbreathable air and burning in the throat”. VIDEO
In short, however, the aid had to concentrate on student population of the high schools nearby, the Russell and the Carrara, which together have around two thousand members. Those who were heading to school on foot from both the train and bus stations were the first to accuse symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, nausea, headache, tears and burning eyes. Not even the classrooms were found to be safe places, given that the irritating fumes were also smelled inside them. The two institutions were therefore evacuated. Sitting or lying on the ground in the courtyard transformed into a first aid area, dozens of young people were able to receive medical assistance and oxygen therapy treatments. Most of the students have returned home. The few remaining returned to the desks after 11.30, following the air quality checks carried out by the Local Health Authority together with Arpae and the Fire Brigade. Checks that immediately examined the “Le Piscine” sports center. The tests revealed the presence of chlorine gas in high concentrations.
Maintenance is underway in the structure, which is private, in preparation for the summer season. The accident occurred during a loading-unloading operation of products used in the water treatment plant. It could be there at the origin a human error or the malfunction of a valve. A spill brought two substances into contact that must remain separate: sulfuric acid and sodium hypochlorite. From their meeting, chlorine vapors originated, which are highly harmful depending on the quantity that is inhaled. At the end of the day, fortunately, no hospitalizations were recorded.
The message published this morning on Facebook by the mayor of Verona
(Telereggio photo)
(Telereggio photo)
(Telereggio photo)
(Telereggio photo)
(Telereggio photo)
(Telereggio photo)
Reggio Emilia Guastalla intoxicated pool spill chlorine
