Brussels School Reopens After Carbon Monoxide Leak

Students returned to class at a school in Saint-Gilles, Brussels, on Wednesday. The school had been evacuated a day earlier after a carbon monoxide leak.

Eighteen people were affected by the incident on Tuesday morning. They included an adult and several students. All were taken to the hospital, according to Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette.

Firefighters later found the source of the problem. A faulty boiler had caused the carbon monoxide leak.

A technician was already at the school to repair the leak. He was the person most affected by the gas exposure.

Faulty Boiler Forced School Evacuation

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas. It has no smell, so people may not realize they are breathing it in.

Exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and weakness. In serious cases, it can be life-threatening.

Emergency services responded after people at the school became ill. The building was evacuated, and those affected received medical attention.

Firefighters identified the faulty boiler as the cause. Classes were able to resume the next day.

Mayor Wants More Safety Checks at Schools

All students returned to school on Wednesday. Lessons continued as planned.

However, Mayor Spinette wants additional safety checks at other schools in Saint-Gilles. He hopes the checks will help identify potential problems and prevent similar incidents.

The incident is a reminder of the importance of maintaining boilers and heating systems. Regular inspections can help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide leaks in schools and other public buildings.

Authorities have not provided further details about the condition of the people taken to the hospital.