Mercury leak at Gimpo foreign language high school forces evacuations, partial closure

A mercury leak at Gimpo Foreign Language High School in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, forced the closure of parts of the school and the evacuation of students Monday.

The Gimpo Fire Department received a report at around 9:10 a.m. Monday that mercury had leaked from a science preparation room at the school, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Students in nearby classrooms were evacuated to the gymnasium. No injuries were reported.

The accident occurred when a worker from a waste disposal company moved a mercury barometer while clearing out aging science equipment stored in the preparation room for disposal.

Firefighters who responded to the scene sealed the mercury barometer and the spilled mercury. Mercury concentrations above permissible levels were still detected in and around the science preparation room after those measures were taken, prompting the school to close off the area and bring in a specialist firm for decontamination.

"Some students will be moved to other classrooms for lessons until the decontamination work is complete," an official from the district office of education said. "We will do our utmost to ensure safety."