Thousands Evacuated from Florida Church After People Sickened
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ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. -- Nearly 2,000 parishioners were evacuated from a Florida church Sunday after some attending mass there became sick, the St. Petersburg Times reported.
The Palm Sunday Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach -- which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Tampa -- was evacuated at around 10:30am local time.
Seven people were taken to local hospitals and treated for nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Their conditions were not yet known.
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The mass resumed at the parish hall, Tampa Bay Online reported.
Fire officials did not immediately know what made the parishioners sick. Fire Chief Dan Graves said a clear liquid was found underneath a second-row pew.
Hazardous materials technicians took samples of the liquid Sunday for analysis.
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Emergency crews were proceeding "with the utmost caution, slowly and methodically," Graves said.
Click here to read more on this story from The St. Petersburg Times.