Dozens of residents fled their seafront flats in Hastings last night after deadly carbon monoxide was detected from a nearby commercial generator.
Emergency Alert at Robertson Terrace
Emergency crews rushed to Robertson Terrace at 6.47pm following reports that people inside Queens Apartments were gasping and showing classic signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Firefighters from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service teamed up with SGN gas engineers to hunt down the source. They traced the toxic fumes to a diesel generator at a neighbouring business, which was pumping dangerous levels of carbon monoxide that seeped straight into the flats.
Mass Evacuation and Emergency Response
- All residents were evacuated immediately as a safety precaution.
- The building was ventilated to clear the deadly gas.
- Sixteen people were checked by paramedics at the scene.
- Seven rushed to hospital for treatment, others treated on-site.
A fire service spokesperson warned that a “significant number of people” showed symptoms from the toxic gas exposure. Meanwhile, the busy A259 seafront road was shut temporarily as emergency vehicles flooded the area.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Warning
Authorities are investigating how the poisonous fumes infiltrated the flats. Residents have been told to stay away until full safety checks give the all-clear.
