Hazmat situation at NC university sickens dozens and sends some to hospital, officials say
Officials are investigating a hazmat situation at Western Carolina University that sent several people to the hospital.
Emergency responders were called to the Health and Human Sciences building at the campus in Cullowhee on Thursday morning after multiple students said they felt lightheaded and reported other symptoms, according to a notice from school officials.
The building was evacuated and remains on lockdown, officials said just before 11:45 a.m.
Several dozen people were evaluated and seven were taken to the hospital, Emergency Services Director Shane Stovall said in an update just before 4 p.m.
Six of those have since been released, Stovall said.
Officials are still investigating the situation and don’t know what caused it, the school said. All classes and activities at the building have been canceled for Thursday.
Classes were going on during the time but officials don’t know how many people were inside.
Everyone is asked to stay away from the area until the building has been cleared, the notice says.
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 12:32 PM.
