Employees and students of the University of Puerto Rico's (UPR) Medical Sciences campus in Río Piedras were ordered to evacuate the main building on Thursday morning. According to Mariana Cobián, director of Press at the campus, this was a precautionary measure due to an odor. The Guillermo Arbona building, located near the Hospital Pediátrico and the Centro Médico de Río Piedras, was evacuated.
Ivonne Rosario, spokesperson for the Fire Department, stated that personnel from the Special Operations Division (DOE) in Hato Rey were on site. The evacuation was carried out as a protocol and security measure due to objectionable odors, but it has not been confirmed if it was gas or another substance. Videos of the evacuation shared by employees show that it was conducted calmly.
This incident occurs a day after the Metro campus of the Interamerican University was also evacuated due to a gas leak from a nearby gas station.