Gas Leak at Gwacheon Citizens' Hall Ice Rink Prompts Evacuation of Around 140 People

Around 140 people were evacuated after a gas presumed to be carbon monoxide leaked at the underground ice rink of the Gwacheon Citizens' Hall in Gyeonggi Province at around 1:30 PM today (30th).

Fire authorities were dispatched after receiving a report from a building official stating, "A student is lying down after smelling gas," and transferred a teenage female student to the hospital.

Subsequently, authorities evacuated about 140 people inside the building, including around 100 ice rink users, and restricted access to the facility.

The Gwacheon Citizens' Hall spans five floors above ground and three floors underground. As today is a holiday, the ice rink (underground level 2), bowling alley (underground level 1), and youth cultural facilities (floor 2) were in normal operation.

Fire authorities suspect that the gas, believed to be carbon monoxide, leaked from a resurfacing machine used to smooth the ice inside the rink.

They are also conducting smoke ventilation operations throughout the building and investigating the exact type of gas leaked.

(File Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.