Hazmat Spill Closes ER At Marina Del Rey Hospital

MARINA DEL REY (CBSLA) – A damaged pipe caused a liquid oxygen spill which forced the closure of the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital Monday morning.

Hazmat crews responded to the spill at around 8:30 a.m. at the hospital located at 4650 Lincoln Blvd., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A pipe from a 2,000-gallon tank sheared, creating the spill, the fire department said. Most of the oxygen in the tank spilled out.

Some patients were transferred by LAFD ambulances to another hospital as a precaution. The hospital said that no patients or staff were hurt, but surgeries for the day were being postponed.

The ER was closed and the hospital's ambulance entrance was also effected, the fire department said. Engineers were conducting repairs. It's unclear when those would be completed and the ER reopened.

The fire department initially reported that the spill consisted of liquid nitrogen, before correcting it to liquid oxygen.

Traffic on Mindanao Way between the 90 Freeway and Lincoln Boulevard was being diverted and drivers were advised to avoid the area.