Update: Walmart in Northampton County evacuated after animal repellent sickens multiple people

A Walmart in Northampton County was evacuated Sunday afternoon after the odor from an animal repellent caused multiple people to feel nauseous, officials said.

The incident started around 3 p.m. at the store on Easton-Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township.

Keith Kulp, a Colonial Regional Police sergeant, said that an animal repellent was returned by someone in the customer service section of the store, and the container was likely opened by accident.

“This did not appear to be a criminal act,” Kulp said.

Multiple ambulances took nine people who were sickened by the odor to area hospitals.

Workers at the store declined to comment. As of Sunday evening, it remained closed.

The incident came just hours after the Walmart in Whitehall Township was evacuated due to a possible gas leak. No further details were available on that incident.