Firefighters arrived at Clínica Santa María in the municipality of Providencia on Wednesday afternoon to respond to a suspected chemical emergency inside the healthcare facility.
According to CNN Chile, the response was concentrated inside the facility. La Tercera specified that police reported the firefighters' operation, while T13 described the emergency as occurring near the clinic.
According to preliminary information gathered by T13, the incident may be related to a possible ethylene oxide leak in the sterilization room area. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the substance involved.
Ethylene oxide is a gas that hospitals and clinics use to sterilize medical instruments that cannot withstand high temperatures. Handling it requires strict protocols because direct exposure can harm people.
Police confirmed that nearly 20 workers were evacuated to a safe area. So far, sources have reported no injuries or impact on patients, and there is no information about the source of the possible leak.
A large contingent of firefighters worked at the site to assess the situation. Because of the operation, the Ministry of Transport reported lane restrictions on Santa María Avenue at Capellán Abarzúa, and drivers are advised to take alternative routes.
The emergency is ongoing, and the available information is preliminary. Firefighters and the clinic are expected to provide an official report on the cause of the incident and the facility's return to normal operations.
