(CNN) Around 150 people have been treated at hospital after being caught in a mysterious "chemical haze" that blanketed the UK's East Sussex coastline Sunday afternoon. Residents exposed to the cloud reported eye and throat irritations, a spokesperson for the National Health Service told CNN. There are no indications yet as to what caused the haze, but East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have termed it a "chemical incident." Cloud moving towards Eastbourne Bexhill area please be aware pic.twitter.com/d5ug7KckuF — C/Insp Bruce Mathews (@CIBruceMathews) August 27, 2017Authorities said the problems began when the "unknown haze" covered the area after possibly coming in off the sea at about 5 p.m. local time. Multiple UK publications were reporting the cloud was chlorine gas -- a toxic chemical weapon that was used to devastating effect during the first World War -- but authorities said this was "extremely unlikely."

Source: CNN August 28, 2017 03:22 UTC