SIOUX CITY HOTEL EVACUATED (UPDATE)

Authorities are investigating what caused a chemical odor that caused the Sioux City Hotel at 4th and Jackson to be evacuated Saturday afternoon.

Fire rigs and ambulances responded to a call around the noon hour because of the strong odor. Rooms were evacuated and the pool area was checked. Some people were given oxygen at the scene by paramedics.

Pat Flynn of the Sioux City Fire Department says one person was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Flynn said the odor and symptoms were similar in nature to tear gas, but a search of the building revealed no specific cause of the odor.

A police spokesman says the event was not being looked at as a criminal activity.

A clerk at the hotel says guests were back in their rooms by mid afternoon and operations were back to normal.