Three cats rescued

E-scooter on fire in Graz: toxic gases escaped

Three cats were also rescued by the Graz professional fire department(Bild: BF Graz)

Toxic gases escaped from a burning e-scooter battery in an apartment in Graz on Thursday evening. The two residents had to be taken to hospital - three cats were also rescued by the professional fire department.

Shortly before midnight on Thursday, the Graz professional fire department was called to an apartment in the Lend district where there was a suspected gas leak. On arrival, the two residents were unable to give an exact reason for their discomfort - only that they had heard a hissing noise and were suffering from shortness of breath. They were first treated by the fire department and then taken to hospital by the Red Cross.

While searching for the possible gas leak, the fire department found the real reason for the two women's discomfort: They found an e-scooter on which the batteries had started to decompose - this had caused them to heat up and emit toxic white smoke. The fire department also found three cats nearby, which they were able to remove from the apartment - fortunately unharmed.

The e-scooter was taken outside and cooled in a basin of water.