On Sunday afternoon, the sudden collapse of several members of a French youth choir in Vienna’s city center triggered a large-scale response from the city’s professional rescue services and fire department. According to spokespeople from both organizations, the exact cause of the collapses was initially unknown, prompting emergency personnel to deploy 16 vehicles to the scene.

The incident occurred while the choir was rehearsing in a building near Stephansplatz. During the rehearsal, one choir member collapsed, leading to panic among the other teenagers, some of whom began hyperventilating. This chain reaction necessitated a major rescue operation.

The fire department arrived first with three vehicles and a multi-gas meter to investigate the cause of the collapses. There was initial concern that a carbon monoxide leak might be to blame. Rescue services also set up a mobile command center to manage the situation. Ultimately, the collapses were attributed to heat and dehydration.

Out of the 15 choir members, three girls were taken to the hospital for treatment. The remaining members received psychological support. After about an hour and a half, the emergency operation was concluded, and normalcy was restored.