At least 60 holidaymakers have been hospitalised with toxic gas poisoning after a swimming pool pump malfunction at a hotel in Benahavis, Costa del Sol, near Marbella. The incident occurred when a circuit breaker on the pressure pump that injects chlorine and acid into the pool tripped, causing a failure that led to toxic gases leaking while the pH and chlorine systems stopped working.
Victims and Response
According to Malaga-based newspaper Sur, children, elderly guests, and people from the UK were among those affected. A regional government official told the outlet that the pool had been sealed off for 'maintenance reasons' the previous day, with staff from a public health laboratory conducting tests. The laboratory, based in Malaga TechPark about 45 minutes from Marbella, specialises in swimming pool and drinking water analysis as well as testing foods for E.coli and Salmonella.
Health Risks of Pool Chemical Imbalance
Pool-related poisonings occur when chlorine concentrations and pH levels are not maintained properly, leading to the formation of toxic substances that cause eye irritation, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Recent Similar Incidents
This incident follows a recent chlorine poisoning at a pool in Rome, where a five-year-old boy was rushed to hospital. Seven children under 10 were among 20 holidaymakers who suffered intense burning in the eyes and throat, coughing, and shortness of breath. Fifty people were evacuated, with firefighters and police attending the scene.
In 2022, a major chlorine leak at the Sea Club Hotel in Alcudia, Majorca, poisoned more than 20 people, including children, who experienced vomiting, skin irritation, and other severe symptoms. Oxygen was administered at the scene by healthcare professionals.
Two years ago in West London, nine children and two adults were rushed to hospital after a chlorine leak at Vale Farm Sports Centre in Sudbury. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said crews 'carried out a sweep of the building where a chlorine leak was found in a learner pool on the ground floor of the three-storey building.' A hazardous area response team was dispatched, but about 150 people had already evacuated. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the centre was 'evacuated as a precaution' and roads were closed. The centre reopened shortly after, but the pool remained shut.
