Several pupils were treated by paramedics after a suspected gas or chemical leak near Umbilo Secondary School in Wentworth, south of Durban, on Thursday morning.
Several pupils were treated by paramedics after a possible gas leak near Umbilo Secondary School in Wentworth, south of the Durban CBD, on Thursday morning.
According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson Gareth Jamieson, emergency services responded to the incident at the school on Major Calvert Road shortly after 10:30.
He said initial reports indicated that a “gas substance may have leaked from a nearby company or residence” and drifted towards the school due to windy conditions.
“Multiple units, together with ALS Paramedics, are currently on scene after reports that some sort of gas or chemical substance had leaked and, due to the wind, infiltrated the school premises,” Jamieson added.
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He said several pupils had experienced breathing difficulties, while one had suffered a seizure.
Paramedics treated multiple children at the scene before taking some of them to various Durban hospitals for further medical care.
“The children are being stabilised before being transported to hospital for the further care that they require,” Jamieson said.
Emergency services, including the eThekwini fire department, were on the scene to secure the area and ensure the safety of pupils, staff and responding personnel.
The school was closed for the remainder of the day while authorities investigated the source of the suspected leak.
Parents were urged to collect their children, although Jamison confirmed that many pupils had not been injured.
