35 Sent To Hospital After Chemical Leak At West Babylon High School

WEST BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Over thirty students and faculty were taken to the hospital after an unknown chemical leak at West Babylon High School on Tuesday.

West Babylon Fire Chief Peter McArdle told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall the leak began in the main hallway of the school, near a home economics classroom.

Students and faculty began to complain that they were having difficulty breathing, with some having a "burning to back of the throat," McArdle said. 

"Apparently fumes or something in the air was causing them to have difficulty breathing," McArdle said.

According to McArdle, four students were taken to the hospital within the first ten minutes of the fire department's arrival to the scene.

In total, 35 people, a mix of students and faculty, were taken to the hospital, but officials said most were released by the end of the afternoon. About two dozen other students were treated at the scene.

The cause of the leak is still under investigation, McArdle said.

Students were dismissed at 12:30 due to the leak.