Casualties overcome by fumes after gas leak at London’s Olympic Park

FILE PHOTO: Athletics – Sainsburys Anniversary Games Preview – London – 24/7/13 General view of new windows being installed at the Aquatics Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Steven Paston Livepic/File Photo

LONDON — A number of casualties with breathing difficulties were being treated by London’s ambulance service on Wednesday after a leak of noxious fumes at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s aquatics center, emergency services said.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which manages the park, said the incident happened at around 1000 GMT and the immediate area had been cordoned off and evacuated.

“There was an incident at the London Aquatics Centre … involving the release of a gas,” a LLDC spokesperson said.

“We are working closely with emergency services who are on site. We understand there are a number of casualties with breathing difficulties who are being treated by the London Ambulance Service.”

The London Ambulance Service said it was responding to a major incident at the aquatics center and had sent multiple resources to the scene. Pictures on Twitter showed more than a dozen ambulances outside the swimming pool.

The Metropolitan Police said the incident involved a leak of noxious fumes.

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