Hotel Pool Gas Leak
Costa del Sol Hotel Pool Malfunction Hospitalizes Dozens with Toxic Gas Poisoning
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Key Points
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At least 60 people, including British visitors, were affected and treated at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella or on-site, with some guests reportedly considering legal action against the unnamed hotel.
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A regional official said the circuit breaker on the pool's chlorine/acid pump tripped, triggering a failure that led to the release of toxic gases.
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On-site public health testing was conducted by a Malaga TechPark-based laboratory, including analyses of swimming pool and drinking water and checks for E. coli and Salmonella, with Majorca’s 2022 chlorine leak cited as a precedent.
At least 60 tourists were rushed to hospital after a swimming pool pump malfunction released toxic gases at a hotel in Benahavís, near Marbella, on Spain's Costa del Sol. British visitors were among those affected, according to The Independent.
Guests were treated at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella or by emergency teams on-site. The hotel's pool was sealed off and the unnamed property remained under investigation as authorities probed a possible maintenance failure.
A Faulty Pump Triggered the Toxic Gas Release
A regional official said the circuit breaker on the hotel pool's pressure pump tripped, causing the system to fail. That failure led to a release of chlorine and acid gases into the air around the pool. Guests in and near the water were exposed before they could get away, according to Yahoo News.
The hotel is located in Benahavís, a municipality just north of Marbella. Authorities described the incident as a possible maintenance-related fault. The pool was immediately closed after the leak was detected and the area was secured.
60 Guests Poisoned, Some Weighing Legal Action
At least 60 holidaymakers fell ill after breathing in the toxic gases. Some were taken by ambulance to Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella. Others received treatment at the hotel from on-site emergency responders, according to Head Topics.
The group affected was international, with British tourists among those hit hardest. Some guests said they were told beforehand that the pool would be closed for maintenance. Several visitors were reportedly considering legal action against the hotel, according to The Independent.
On-Site Lab Tests Checked for Water Contamination
A laboratory based at the Malaga TechPark carried out public health testing at the scene. Tests covered both the swimming pool water and the hotel's drinking water. Analysts also ran checks for E. coli and Salmonella to rule out wider contamination, according to The Independent.
Incident Echoes 2022 Chlorine Leak at Majorca Hotel
The Benahavís incident is not the first of its kind in Spain's tourist resorts. A similar chlorine leak at a hotel in Majorca in 2022 injured dozens of guests. That earlier case raised alarms about how hotels handle pool chemicals and maintain safety equipment, according to Yahoo News.
Both incidents point to a recurring problem with chemical management at busy tourist hotels. Experts say pool systems that use chlorine and acid must be checked regularly. A single tripped circuit breaker, as seen in Benahavís, can be enough to set off a dangerous chain of events.
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