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Too much chlorine in the pool: 15 guests injured in Phantasialand
Due to the Microsoft disruption, the staff at the Phantasialand theme park did not notice that there was too much chlorine in the swimming pool of a hotel on site. 15 guests were injured.
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North Rhine-Westphalia Too much chlorine in the pool - injured people in Phantasialand Status: November 14th, 2026 • 6:01 p.m
Because of the Microsoft disruption on Friday, Phantasialand didn't notice that there was too much chlorine in the pool. 15 guests were injured.
We were all exposed to this problem: On Friday there was a disruption that paralyzed the US software company Microsoft. Among other things, the email program Outlook.
Phantasialand was also affected. Due to the disruption, no emails were received, as the company told WDR on Saturday. So no one noticed that the sauna area's maintenance security system had long since sounded the alarm via email. The automatic dosing system had pumped too much chlorine into the pool.
As a result, guests at the Hotel Ling Bao at Phantasialand in Brühl were injured. They have complained of health problems after visiting the pool. It was temporarily closed, but has now been reopened, as the fire department told WDR on Saturday.
Because of the complaints from hotel visitors, rescue workers and the fire department were called. 13 guests complained about irritation of the respiratory tract, ultimately the number of those affected rose to a total of 15.
Initially it was said that five guests were taken to hospital, later the number was corrected to four, one of whom remained in hospital for observation due to a moderate injury.
Tests carried out by emergency services at the hotel revealed a defect in the automatic dosing system for the pool. This led to significantly excessive chlorine levels. The water was therefore replaced.
Broadcast: WDR2, WDR-Aktuell, November 14, 2026, 6 p.m