Two major department stores in New Jersey were shut down Saturday morning because of a weird smell, and nine people were taken to the hospital.
The store manager of Century 21 at Bergen Town Center called police to report an odor within the store and several nauseous employees.
Century 21 and the adjacent Filene’s Basement store were immediately evacuated.
Police, EMS, paramedics, Hazmat, fire, and health officials were dispatched to the scene, along with 10 ambulances.
Sixteen victims experienced varying degrees of distress, police said. Eight Century 21 employees were transported to area hospitals. One customer was also transported to an area hospital. Five victims were treated at the scene and released. Two people refused medical aid, police said.
The smell was the result of a penetrating water repellent sealer applied to concrete in a parking deck under construction, police said. The vapors permeated the Century 21 store interior causing employees and a customer to feel ill.
Emergency personnel provided positive pressure ventilation to remove the vapors. The situation was rendered safe with all emergency services personnel clearing the scene shortly after 2 p.m. The stores were turned over to management personnel.
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Mayor James J. Tedesco III, who was at the scene, instructed mall officials to restrict the future application of the types of products that caused the smell to non-business hours.
