Australia Post workers hospitalised as suspicious package moves through mail sorting centres

Five people have been rushed to hospital after suspicious package were found at mail sorting centres in Queensland‘s north.

Emergency services were called to the facility on Morris St in West End, Townsville, after a worker discovered an unknown substance leaking from a package about 6.30am on Friday.

The alarm was raised after the worker became unwell after handling the package.

The building was evacuated and paramedics treated the worker at the scene before they were taken to Townsville Hospital in a stable condition for ongoing treatment.

A second emergency was called in after four more workers at a Charters Towers Australia Post sorting facility on Gill St became unwell and were taken to hospital about 6.40am.

It’s understood the same package caused the workers to become unwell after it contaminated equipment and other parcels placed on a truck from Townsville to Charters Towers before it was discovered.

Australia Post confirmed hazardous substances were found inside a parcel and that the Charters Towers Post Office will remain closed until it is safe to resume operations.

“The safety of our team members is our number one priority and Australia Post has strong, well established safety protocols around these incidents. We continue to support our team members,” they said.

“We remind all customers of the important safety regulations in place around the sending of dangerous, prohibited and restricted goods.”

Fire and rescue crews were sent to both locations, with a spokesperson confirming four Queensland Fire and Rescue scientific units, teams who respond to HAZMAT emergencies, have been called in.

Police and ambulance remain on scene in Charters Towers, while the Townsville facility has since been reopened.

Investigations into the source of the package and its contents remain ongoing.