Nine hospitalised, 200 evacuated after chemical leak at Melbourne pool during routine maintenance

A routine Friday evening(June 20) swim turned into a nerve‑racking emergency at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre when a chemical reaction during maintenance sent a cloud of sodium hydrogen sulphate, a common pH‑adjusting agent, through the air, sickening nine people and forcing around 200 visitors to evacuate.

What happened

At 6:15 pm on June 20, patrons reported a gas‑like smell in the building. Fire Rescue Victoria rushed in within six minutes and discovered that the most affected were children. Eight kids and one adult were taken to local hospitals in stable condition, six to Sunshine Hospital, three to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Emergency teams worked quickly to ventilate the centre, and by 8:16 pm, it was deemed safe to re‑enter.


Centre staff also stepped into the spotlight. Hume City Council credited their team’s calm but firm evacuation and swift coordination for helping avert a worse outcome. A council spokeswoman said evacuees have been in touch and “we understand they are all doing well”.

Cause of the incident

Hazmat units confirmed the culprit was sodium hydrogen sulphate, often used in pools to safely adjust pH levels. The reaction occurred during standard pool cleaning and no foul play is suspected. WorkSafe and Victoria Police launched investigations, while the Hume City Council began an internal review to ensure this doesn’t recur.

The incident raises questions about safety checks in recreational facilities used by families and children.

Council officials confirmed all swim lessons resumed the next morning, after WorkSafe cleared the facility. Now, stakeholders await clarity from the internal review on what triggered the chemical imbalance.