Chlorine leak sickens 100 at Vegas pool

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A chlorine leak into one of the pools at the MGM Grand resort sickened 100 vacationers in Las Vegas, emergency authorities said.

Richard Brenner, hazardous materials coordinator for the Clark County Fire Department, said about 1,500 people were at the hotel's pool area around 1:30 p.m. Friday, when it was evacuated. Firefighters treated about 100 people at the scene and took 26 others to hospitals, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

MGM Resorts International spokesman Gordon Absher said the leak occurred after an injector valve on the chlorination system got stuck in the on position.

Chlorine gas began evaporating off the water, and guests began to smell it, prompting MGM Grand to start the evacuation. Those who were overcome by the fumes were treated by breathing in large amounts of oxygen, Brenner said.

No one will suffer lingering harm from the brief exposure, he said.