More than 20 workers sick, 1 hospitalized from unknown hazardous powder at Georgia warehouse

LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — Employees at a middle Georgia warehouse became sick after possible hazardous materials were released in the building.

On Thursday, Dublin firefighters responded to a call at the Best Buy distribution center.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

More than 20 employees complained of irritation of their eyes, noses and throats from an unknown powdered substance in the warehouse, WGXA reported. One patient was taken to a local hospital.

TRENDING STORIES:

• 2 arrested after police say they stole from Walmart, led police on high-speed chase on I-85
• Nurse arrested after alleged drug deal with inmate caught on camera inside Coweta County Jail
• Longtime Waffle House customers raise thousands for medical bills of beloved server with cancer

The firefighters along with Best Buy officials evacuated the building and closed for the day.

According to WGXA, the Laurens County hazmat team responded to help firefighters clean up and help those who’d been exposed.

The condition of the patient transported to a hospital is currently unknown.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees. As soon as we learned of the issue, we immediately evacuated the facility and contacted local authorities. We are working with local emergency responders to investigate the cause of the issue and the facility will remain closed today,” Best Buy wrote in a statement.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

Police investigating shooting at Clayton County auto parts store A Channel 2 Action News photographer was at the scene in Riverdale, where windows at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store were shattered.

©2022 Cox Media Group