North Rhine-Westphalia: drain cleaner: residents must be evacuated

Bonn (dpa / lnw) - Because of the use of a large amount of chemical drain cleaner, an apartment building in Bonn had to be evacuated.

North Rhine-Westphalia: drain cleaner: residents must be evacuated

Bonn (dpa / lnw) - Because of the use of a large amount of chemical drain cleaner, an apartment building in Bonn had to be evacuated. A spokesman said around five liters of the highly corrosive liquid were used in a kitchen on Monday evening. A pungent odor could be detected on the stairwell.

According to the fire department, the two residents of the affected apartment were first taken to a hospital. 40 other people were evacuated and accommodated in buses. Special forces in protective suits then removed the cleaner using binding agents. The affected apartment was then ventilated with fans. Despite the measures, it is not habitable until further notice, the fire brigade said.

The evacuees were able to return to their homes after the operation was over. The fire department initially did not want to comment on the exact background of the incident.