In Tàrrega, six students and a teacher at the Shared Schooling Unit (UEC) were affected on Tuesday after inhaling toxic fumes during an art activity. The incident happened in Lleida province, and local authorities say it appears to have been caused by an accidental mix of chemicals.
Two children were taken to Arnau de Vilanova Hospital in Lleida. The other people affected were treated for mild symptoms at the CAP, the primary care centre in Tàrrega, according to reports from Segre and confirmation from Tàrrega's Education Councillor, Emili Gilabert.
Gilabert said he had no information that the two hospitalised children remained admitted. He also said the first signs point to an accidental intoxication, but local police have opened an investigation.
The teacher involved said paint had spilled on the floor during the class. To clean it, students put bleach into a bucket that, it appears, contained remnants of another chemical product. That combination produced a toxic cloud, Gilabert told reporters.
Authorities are now checking the exact circumstances of the incident and how the chemicals were mixed. For more local reporting from across Catalonia, see our news coverage.
