SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine-
A supermarket reopened Tuesday morning following a scare in which more than 40 customers and employees were treated for burning throats, difficulty breathing and nausea.
Officials believe a problem with the heating and cooling system was to blame for the symptoms that led to the evacuation of a Shaw’s Supermarket at about 6:45 p.m. Monday.
The manager ordered the supermarket evacuated after customers and workers began coughing and covering their mouths with shirts and handkerchiefs.
Ambulance crews helped to bring the workers and customers to three local hospitals. Police say no one appeared to be seriously ill. Most of the people who fell ill were feeling better within an hour or so.
Investigators were looking at the heating and cooling system in the recently renovated store as the possible source of the problem.
“We are very concerned about the health and safety our associates, and we are working closely with officials to determine the source of the problem,” said Judy Chong, a spokeswoman for Shaw’s.
Chong had no comment on the source of the problem, and said she would wait for the fire department’s findings.
