36 Become Ill From Sewer Pipe Odors

Foul-smelling odors from an uncapped sewer pipe in an office complex near downtown Los Angeles sent 36 nauseated people to area hospitals Friday and forced the evacuation of about 200.

The Fire Department was called twice to the twin-towered Olympic Union Square to find workers complaining of headaches, dizziness and nausea. Dozens were treated with oxygen at the scene.

Odors escaping from a three-inch sewer pipe on the ninth floor were drawn into the ventilation system and spread throughout the east wing’s eighth floor, occupied by Amtrak’s reservation office, fire officials said.

It was not known why the pipe had been uncapped.

Assistant Fire Chief Bob Ramirez said fire units first responded at 10:29 a.m. and took 10 patients to hospitals. After checking the building and failing to find the source of the smells, Ramirez said, people were allowed back inside.

But after the air conditioning was turned back on, Ramirez said, the odors again sickened office workers. Paramedics took 26 people to six area hospitals the second time.

Occupants of the building returned to their offices later Friday afternoon.