Two pregnant women, two small children and man were taken to hospital after a carbon monoxide leak at a block of flats on Kingsland Road in Dalston.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus evacuated the four storey block. In total 21 residents evacuated the building and were check over by London Ambulance Service crews. Two women, two infants and a man were taken to hospital as they had elevated carbon monoxide readings.
Fire crews swept the building and declared the building safe when they found no high readings of the lethal gas. Firefighters want everyone to make sure they have a carbon monoxide detector in their home.
Shoreditch Watch Manager Mark Lanaway who was at the scene said:
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, with least 50 deaths nationally recorded every year as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Despite this, the majority of people still do not have a carbon monoxide detector in their home. It is vital that everyone has a carbon monoxide alarm in addition to smoke alarms.”
The Brigade was called at 2257 and the incident was over by 0133. Firefighters from Islington, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and Lewisham fire stations were at the scene.