Five people sick after hazmat incident in Portsmith

Emergency services rushed to the building near Cairns at about 8.40am after five people all reported experiencing the same symptoms, including dizziness.

Multiple people have reported peculiar symptoms after a “hazmat incident” at a facility in Portsmith.

Emergency services rushed to the building near Cairns at about 8.40am on Thursday after five people all reported experiencing the same symptoms, including dizziness.

The scene has been attended by four Queensland Fire and Emergency Service appliances as well as several ambulance crews, and the building has been evacuated.

Five people experienced the same symptoms, including dizziness. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

A QFES spokesman said the issue had been listed as a hazmat job.

“It was initially reported as something in the air, like a smell,” they said.

“Our teams have gone in to investigate, they’re doing some gas monitoring.”

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said paramedics were looking after “potentially five patients, showing some symptoms like dizziness”.

“We’re not entirely sure what’s going on there. They’re stable, just showing some symptoms.”

Originally published as Five people sick after hazmat incident in Portsmith