59 Hospitalized After Chlorine Leak at Jeju Luxury Hotel

[Anchor]

Fifty-nine people, including hotel guests and staff, have been sent to hospitals following a chlorine gas leak at a popular hotel swimming pool in Jeju. Fire authorities believe the gas was generated after pool disinfectants were incorrectly mixed.

JIBS reporter Kim Jae-yeon has the details.

[Reporter]

An ambulance hurriedly pulls into a luxury hotel in Seogwipo.

People sitting weakly and catching their breath are visible upon entering the scene.

Paramedics are moving busily at a temporary medical station.

Chlorine gas had leaked from the hotel swimming pool.

The first report was received at around 10:40 AM today (October 1), stating that a smell resembling bleach was coming from various parts of the hotel.

[Hotel Guest: They told us to get out of the pool, so I left with the kids. But I first thought, why would they use so much bleach in a hotel swimming pool?]

[Hospitalized Hotel Guest: The gas smell was spreading into the rooms, the hallways, and even the lobby, so I figured it wouldn't do, and took my whole family and went outside...]

About one hour and forty minutes after the accident occurred, the initially measured chlorine gas concentration reached a peak of 50 ppm.

It is reported that some 380 guests staying at the hotel at the time evacuated outside the building in an emergency following broadcast instructions.

More than 50 patients, including guests and hotel staff complaining of symptoms such as dizziness and vomiting, were transported to various hospitals.

Chlorine gas is a hazardous chemical substance that can cause breathing difficulties or lung damage if it affects the corneas and respiratory system.

[Kang Chang-hwan, Head of the Incident Response Unit at Seogwipo Fire Station: This is a situation where chlorine gas, a mixed gas, was generated due to mistakenly replenishing and mixing bleach. We are currently continuously measuring chlorine gas in the swimming pool machine room.]

Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident and whether any additional hazardous substances were released.

(Video by Kang Myung-chul / JIBS)

Kim Jae-yeon, JIBS
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.