6 Hurt From Rooftop Chlorine Leak That Shuts Down Wacker Drive

CHICAGO, IL — Six people were hospitalized Friday morning because of a chlorine leak from a building rooftop near the Wacker Drive and Clark Street, according to the Chicago Fire Department. A hazardous materials team has been sent to handle the situation, and the street around the building, 77 W. Wacker Dr., has been closed.

According to a fire department spokesman, the leak happened around 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13, when chlorine and acid were mistakenly combined on the 49-story office building's roof, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Firefighters haven't determined how the leak started, the report added. The workers who were hurt "were affected by chemicals mixed for cleaning purposes," the fire department said.

Streets around the building were reopened around 11 a.m., but Upper Wacker Drive remained closed, according to the fire department. Fire officials also reopened the building around the same time. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The injured suffered from respiratory problems, and a CFD spokesman said he didn't think they were life-threatening, the report stated. Five of the people who were hurt were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and the other person were taken to Rush Medical Center, all in serious to fair conditions, the report added.

One person refused treatment at the scene, according to the fire department.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times

Photo via Shutterstock

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