The beach at Birling Gap in Eastbourne, UK. This stretch of coastline was evacuated on Aug. 27 after a mysterious chemical cloud descended upon the beach.

A mysterious chemical cloud descended on beaches in England on Sunday (Aug. 27), according to news reports, and authorities are puzzling over what caused it and why it sickened more than 100 people.

As the cryptic cloud fogged up the shoreline, several beaches in East Sussex were evacuated and residents were advised to close their windows and doors, The Independent reported yesterday (Aug. 28).

Still, nearly 150 people who were exposed to the cloud needed medical treatment for problems such as stinging eyes, sore throats and vomiting, according to The Independent.

The chemical composition of the cloud is not clear. "What it was, it smelled like burnt plastic," Bob Jefferey, a deputy launching authority at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Eastbourne division told The Guardian.

One beachgoer tweeted, "Some sort of chemical incident at Birling Gap, eyes are streaming and there's a strong smell of chlorine in the air."

Another beachgoer told The Guardian that doctors who treated her said she had been exposed to ammonia.

Authorities are still investigating where the cloud came from.

"Neither the gas nor its source have been established, but agencies are continuing to investigate and have not ruled out either on-shore or off-shore locations, although it does appear that it did sweep in from the sea driven by on-shore breezes," the Sussex police said, according to The Independent.

It's unlikely, however, that the cloud drifted across the English Channel from France, the Sussex police said. (Chemical clouds have drifted across the English Channel from Europe in the past, but British officials said Sunday's weather would not have caused this, according to The Independent.)

Jay Merrell, a weather forecaster from the U.K.'s national weather service, said the cloud may have been caused by a ship offshore, but added that nothing conclusive had been proved, according to the Associated Press.

By Monday, the cloud had mostly dissipated, The Guardian reported.

http://www.livescience.com/60260-mysterious-chemical-cloud-on-british-beaches.html

This is a strange one moe, they gave out a warning sun early evening. Some were saying that it was chlorine like, others as you say burnt plastic. One professor said it's possibly a mixture of algie.
Until they said what I smelt like I thought possibly an aircraft getting rid of fuel which they do on occasions over the channel if they have a problem. on the north coast of France just opposite Eastbourne there are major chemical industries, that was a possibility to. The channel is I think the busiest sea way in the world. another possibility is a chemical tanker washed it hold out. Guess they'll have an enquiry.
Amazing how the wind can carry things. In the 80s we had radiation over Scotland and Wales in the hills that came from chernobyl power station that exploded in Ukraine, formerly ussr.

That's pretty scary. Any chances it would be chemical warfare?

I was about to ask the same question.

Highly unlikely, possibly chemical based. The types of chemicals used as weapons would of had a far more serious effect on the people.

Oh, that makes sense. Well hopefully they will find out where it came from so it doesn't happen again.

We haven't even left the EU yet and this is what they send us.

I was just thinking, the picture above is the view that puts a smile on the faces of immigrants who have travelled thousands of miles for freedom! Mostly walking through every country between the UK and Iraq!

I'm sure someone knows what it is... burnt plastic or chlorine are not a natural odor...

I'm sure someone knows what it is... burnt plastic or chlorine are not a natural odor...