Many vacationers staying at a hotel in Costa del Sol have been hospitalized due to toxic gas poisoning. Approximately 60 individuals required medical treatment after a gas leak occurred at the hotel’s swimming pool following a pump malfunction. Additional guests received medical care at the establishment located in Benahavis near Marbella.
An investigation is currently ongoing into the incident. A government official stated that the circuit breaker on the pressure pump responsible for injecting chlorine and acid into the pool malfunctioned, causing the system to fail. Consequently, the chlorine and pH systems ceased to function properly, leading to the continued release of toxic gases.
Among those affected were children and elderly individuals, including tourists from the UK, who were transported to Marbella’s Costa del Sol Hospital as reported by the local newspaper Sur based in Malaga.
Following the incident, the pool was closed off for maintenance purposes. Although it was shut down the previous day, it remained uncertain whether it would reopen today.
A Polish tourist staying at the hotel mentioned being aware of water issues but was unsure of the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
Health officials from a public health laboratory in Malaga TechPark were observed conducting tests at the site. Apart from analyzing swimming pool and drinking water, the laboratory specializes in testing food for E.coli and Salmonella.
In a similar event in July 2022, over 20 individuals, including children, were poisoned by a significant chlorine leak at a hotel in Majorca. The incident took place at the Sea Club Hotel in Alcudia, where affected individuals experienced symptoms such as vomiting, skin irritation, and itching, requiring oxygen administration by health workers.
Instances of pool-related poisonings often occur due to improper chlorine concentrations and pH levels, resulting in the formation of toxic substances that cause eye irritation, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal disorders.
In August 2024, a dozen people were hospitalized due to gas emissions from a hotel’s swimming pool storeroom area in Menorca. Emergency services promptly responded to the incident at the Royal Son Bou Family Club Hotel, where workers were swiftly taken to the hospital after a gas cloud formed due to human error during a chlorine tank delivery.