A hazmat investigation at a luxury Brooklyn spa sent five people to the hospital overnight, while emergency crews assessed another 15 at the scene, authorities say.
Firefighters responding to a call about some sort of odor at World Spa on McDonald Avenue in Midwood around 10 p.m. Wednesday determined there was a hazmat incident in the basement of the building, though the nature of it wasn’t immediately clear by Thursday morning, it was suspected that the source was a dangerous combination of cleaning agents. .
In total, 20 patients were reported, the FDNY said. Five were taken to Coney Island Hospital in unknown condition. The other victims were treated and released at the scene.
The situation was said to be under control shortly after 1 a.m. It started after the spa had closed, so no customers were affected. World Spa said in a Thursday statement that investigators had deemed the building safe to reopen, but it opted to stay closed for the day “out of an abundance of caution” and to ensure employees’ needs are met.
“We were deeply concerned by the incident,” World Spa said in a statement Thursday. “Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our customers and team. Because of the strict health and safety protocols we have in place, we acted quickly, contacting all relevant authorities to assess and address the situation. Our team fully cooperated with emergency services to ensure all affected staff received necessary medical attention.”
World Spa bills itself as New York City’s “premiere and most diverse spa destination,” with 50,000 square feet of “urban bathhouse” for guests to explore at their own pace, “indulging in new, culturally-authentic bathing experiences and sampling exquisite food and drink along the way.”
