Of the 17 people treated at the scene, 10 had to be transferred to various hospitals in the province and Barcelona. Emergency medical services (SEM) assessed the affected individuals, who presented mild to moderate symptoms. Seven people were discharged at the site.
The incident occurred during the handling of chlorine and other chemicals used for pool maintenance. The reaction created a cloud that affected the swimmers present at the facility. Firefighters established a safety perimeter and evacuated the pools. Nearby residents were also asked to keep their windows closed as a precaution.
The SEM deployed seven ambulances and transferred the affected individuals to the Hospital del Vendrell, Sant Camil Hospital (Barcelona), Santa Tecla Hospital, and Joan XXIII Hospital (Tarragona). Among those hospitalized are 5 adults and 5 minors.
As a preventive measure, the area around the pool was cordoned off. Sources from Civil Protection confirmed a meeting with the City Council of La Bisbal del Penedès, led by mayor Agnès Ferré. A mobile alert or lockdown for residents has been ruled out; they are only asked not to approach the facilities.
The municipal pools will remain closed until user safety can be guaranteed. The toxic cloud is expected to have dissipated almost entirely by late afternoon. Firefighters worked on emptying the chemical product tanks.
