British Museum in London evacuated
Great commotion in the English capital, London, last weekend: The British Museum in London had to be evacuated in a matter of minutes because of a strange smell. Fortunately, the operation went smoothly, and the all-clear was given just a few hours later.
As museum spokesperson Esme Wilson told the press, an estimated 8,000 visitors had to leave the British Museum in London in a hurry last Saturday. The strange smell raised fears of a gas leak, but these proved to be unfounded. According to police, the evacuation went smoothly and was handled exemplary. Shortly before 1 p.m., the fire brigade and police in London were alerted and initiated the evacuation of the British Museum in London. Visitors complained of watery eyes and a smell of gas.
British Museum
Date: 30/09/2026
The British Museum was then evacuated as a precaution. The all-clear was given at around 5 p.m. after a thorough investigation. None of the evacuated visitors needed medical attention or hospital treatment.
The British Museum in London is the world's largest museum of cultural history. It was founded in 1753 by physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane, when he bequeathed his personal collection of literature and art to the British state. The museum was initially housed in Montagu House in the Bloomsbury district and officially opened on January 15, 1759. As the collection continued to grow, the British Museum moved in 1850 to a purpose-built building in London. In the years that followed, the rapidly increasing number of exhibits meant that parts of the collection had to be moved to nearby buildings due to a lack of space.
Christian Bathen
Photo: Christian Bathen
