Overview
- Gas escaped from a nearby mofette, a natural CO2 outlet, and flowed into the building’s basement where it displaced oxygen.
- Two people were found unconscious and taken to hospital, where they remain under observation, and three others suffered minor injuries.
- The fire service cites maintenance the previous day, including a removed cover, as a likely factor in a pressure build that forced gas to the surface.
- Around 120 responders evacuated and ventilated the area, and by evening the release was largely under control with a valve set for controlled venting.
- City officials report continuous measurements and cordons remain in place, and police see no indication of negligent or intentional wrongdoing.