Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024

New Rochelle hazmat: '13 hospitalized after chlorine mixed with chemical at New York YMCA'

A HAZMAT situation at a local YMCA in New Rochelle reportedly left 13 hospitalized on Monday after "chlorine was mistakenly mixed with another chemical."

According to CBS2, the accidental chemical mix "filled the building with fumes."

Officials were reportedly called to the fitness center located on Weyman Avenue near Bayard Street at 7.30am local time.

A Hazmat team was called to the facility after 7am.

One witness told the outlet that he was working out when people started to panic and ran outside.

Another told the news station that "it felt like their lungs were on fire," as gym-goers quickly ran to escape the building.

“Respiratory injuries, some skin exposure injuries,” New Rochelle Fire Chief Andrew Sandor said on the scene.

The fire chief said that hydrochloric acid was mistakenly mixed into a barrel containing chlorine.

“When these two chemicals are mixed, they start to – it’s called off-gassing, caused a reaction, and makes the whole atmosphere around unsafe,” Sandor said.

The toxic cloud of chlorine gas reportedly spread from a maintenance room near the pool.

Some of the injured were transported to Jacobi Medical Center, where a decontamination unit was set up.

“Couldn’t breath anymore. Obvious mistake in mixing chemicals. Next thing you know, it’s just an act of desperation to get out of the pool. Everyone is coughing, desperately trying to get out any which way. Just an awful scene,” gym-goer Nikolai Pamukoff told CBS2.

There have been no fatalities reported.

New Rochelle fire officials said the scene is "contained".

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