Three children and a four month old baby were exposed to chlorine at the municipal swimming pool in the Miralbueno district of Zaragoza. Two of the children were transported by ambulance to Miguel Servet Hospital while the other two stayed with relatives for the moment. Those affected received care from the Zaragoza Fire Department, which provided oxygen and urgently transported them to a mobile clinic for evaluation. The facility remains open.
Investigation indicates a minor blockage in the pool’s chlorine injection pump. When water circulates, the blockage dissolves and the accumulated chlorine is released in a surge, causing a sudden overchlorination. Officials say the pools are expected to reopen normally tomorrow, with additional inspections of the facilities, machinery, and vessels to ensure proper operation.
a yellow cloud
The pool did not require draining. The affected glass, a splash panel, has been sealed by local authorities to prevent access. Center operators have conducted measurements on other vessels, and at this stage, those vessels appear to be operating normally.
“A yellow cloud of steam appeared suddenly on the pool glass where the little ones swim,” a user noted. “There was a lot of concern, and when help arrived two of the children were already improving, yet two others seemed more affected by the chlorine.”
An eyewitness reported, “A girl vomited after exposure to the resulting gas.” The family initially thought something had been swallowed, but it became clear that a chlorine leak affected several youngsters.
“The most affected were the baby and an eight-year-old,” said a family exiting the pool. “It was around six thirty in the afternoon and the facility was crowded, with roughly two hundred people in and around the water.”
For the facility’s installations, the general consensus among those present was that the chlorine pump had malfunctioned. “It surprised me they did not disable the pump sooner,” one observer commented. “They chose to seal the splattered glass entrance instead.”
great flock
The incident occurred during a busy period. It was afternoon, the weather was hot, and people of all ages were enjoying the facility’s pools.
Some bathers did not grasp what was happening. “I didn’t hear anything, honestly,” said a middle aged woman leaving the pool. The center manager declined to comment and the press was not allowed inside.
“I don’t know, it felt like they were keeping things quiet so guests wouldn’t notice,” remarked a Miralbueno resident. He planned to spend the afternoon with his wife and three children.
Municipal sources state that none of the children were in serious condition. “They were taken to health centers for precaution, but did not suffer serious poisoning. In fact two of the four affected people returned to their parents once it was confirmed they were well,” an official source stated.
Regarding the baby, officials noted a hospital checkup was performed because of the child’s small size, while the eight-year-old was described as more affected due to his proximity to the chlorine cloud that formed when the purification system failed.