Major Australian university campus is evacuated and closed after reports of ‘fumes’ in lecture halls

The new campus of Edith Cowan University in Perth CBD was forced to evacuate following reports of strong fumes.

Hundreds of students and staff members were ordered to leave the campus before 2pm AWST on Wednesday.

The evacuation was enacted just three days after the $853million campus opened for lectures.

Students at the scene believed the order was triggered by a gas leak possibly caused by ongoing construction work and spread by internal air vents, the ABC reported.

There were also reports a group of students were temporarily trapped in an elevator during the evacuation. 

Officials confirmed the campus would be closed for the remainder of the day in a text. 

An Edith Cowan University spokesperson followed with a statement claiming an emergency alarm was triggered on level four of the nine-storey campus.

‘In line with established safety protocols, the campus was evacuated as a precaution,’ they said.

‘ECU is continuing its investigation into how the alarm was sounded but can confirm that there were no injuries reported and all students and staff were evacuated safely.’