Nine hospitalised, 200 evacuated after chemical leak at Melbourne pool during routine maintenance
Leisure Centre
when a chemical reaction during maintenance sent a cloud of sodium hydrogen sulphate, a common pH‑adjusting agent, through the air, sickening nine people and forcing around 200 visitors to evacuate.
What happened
At 6:15 pm on June 20, patrons reported a gas‑like smell in the building.
Fire Rescue Victoria
rushed in within six minutes and discovered that the most affected were children. Eight kids and one adult were taken to local hospitals in stable condition, six to Sunshine Hospital, three to the Royal Children's Hospital. Emergency teams worked quickly to ventilate the centre, and by 8:16 pm, it was deemed safe to re‑enter.
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Undo
Centre staff also stepped into the spotlight.
Hume City Council
credited their team's calm but firm evacuation and swift coordination for helping avert a worse outcome. A council spokeswoman said evacuees have been in touch and 'we understand they are all doing well'.
Cause of the incident
Hazmat units confirmed the culprit was sodium hydrogen sulphate, often used in pools to safely adjust pH levels. The reaction occurred during standard pool cleaning and no foul play is suspected. WorkSafe and
Victoria
Police launched investigations, while the Hume City Council began an internal review to ensure this doesn't recur.
Live Events
The incident raises questions about safety checks in recreational facilities used by families and children.
Council officials confirmed all swim lessons resumed the next morning, after WorkSafe cleared the facility. Now, stakeholders await clarity from the internal review on what triggered the chemical imbalance.
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