Hotel in Maria Alm evacuated after chlorine gas leak

A hotel in Maria Alm in the Pinzgau region was evacuated on Saturday after a sensor detected elevated chlorine gas levels, ORF reported. Volunteer fire brigades used specialist equipment during the response.

According to a building technician, a hose near the hotel swimming pool had come loose, allowing water to enter a container holding chlorine granules. A sensor detected the increased level and triggered an alarm at about 4 p.m.

When emergency crews arrived, they detected a strong smell of chlorine in the stairwell. The Maria Alm Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Hinterthal fire unit, supported by police, evacuated the affected part of the building and the underground garage. The danger zone was cordoned off over a wide area.

A specialist breathing apparatus vehicle was called in from Zell am See. Several teams wearing breathing apparatus and protective suits recovered and secured the container before taking it to a waste disposal facility, where the granules were diluted further with water.

Contact between water and certain chlorine-containing substances, including chlorine granules, can trigger a chemical reaction that releases chlorine gas. Inhalation can cause severe irritation of the airways, breathing difficulties and serious lung damage.

After firefighters removed the container and ventilated the hotel, the building was reopened in the early evening. All hotel guests and emergency responders remained uninjured.