Police investigate ice rink ammonia leak
28th March 2019
GERMANY: Police are conducting criminal investigations after an ammonia leak in the city of Straubing, south east of Nuremberg, injured 14 people.
The emergency services were called to the Eisstadion am Pulverturm, the home arena of Straubing Tigers ice hockey team, yesterday morning.
Police accounts say that construction work being carried out at the stadium, which can hold approximately 6,000 spectators, damaged the ammonia refrigeration pipes. Due to the escape of the gas, 14 persons were injured and about 60 persons had to be examined as a precautionary measure. There were no serious injuries recorded. The vast majority of those affected complained of eye and respiratory irritation.
A number of roads were closed in the surrounding area and around 150 people local people had to be evacuated. The restrictions were lifted and people finally allowed to return to their homes at around 17.00, 10 hours after the alarm was raised.
