UPDATE: Lakeland Hospital spokeswoman Jessica Hines has confirmed that one child transported to Lakeland-Niles was dead on arrival. Information regarding the child’s age, gender or residence was not available.

At least 13 people were reported injured Saturday morning after authorities confirmed high elevations of carbon monoxide were found at the Quality Inn and Suites at 1265 S. 11th St. in Niles.

According to Niles Police Sgt. Scott Swanson the victims, who were found in the first floor pool area reported difficulties breathing. They were transferred by ambulance to Memorial and Lakeland Hospitals. The severity of their condition is not known at this time.

“I do know that there were elevated carbon monoxide levels but as far as if that is what caused it we have not confirmed that yet,” Swanson said.

Swanson said authorities set off the fire alarms to evacuate the entire building.

Witnesses who were evacuated confirmed seeing multiple people being carried out on stretchers.

T.A. Nalian, of Detroit, was staying at the hotel while visiting southwest Michigan with the Stand Strength team. Nalian said he was alerted to the situation around 10:25 a.m. when he heard a pounding on the door.

“I hear boom, boom, boom. I mean violent knocking at the door,” he said. “[They were saying] ‘Get out. Get out. Exit the building now!’”

During the evacuation, he said he saw an injured woman on the south side of the building near the pool area on the first floor.

“She was lying on the ground frothing at the mouth. She was out and gone. I walked right past her,” Nalian said.  “She was foaming at the mouth, no movement whatsoever.”

He said he heard others say they were feeling sick and woozy. Nalian said he saw a police officer who seemed to be feeling the same effects being helped out of the building.

“They had him by his arms, because he could not stand on his own,” Nalian said.

After being evacuated, residents of the hotel stood in the parking lot observing with little clue from authorities as to what had happened.

“We do not know what happened,” Nalian said.

Nalian said he also detected a very foul odor that he likened to a gas fume as he left the breakfast area and passed the pool around 9:30 a.m.

Nalian said he did not experience any wooziness or dizziness.

Other witnesses confirmed seeing injured people being carried out of the building.

Francine Saunders, of Niles, said she saw several teenagers who looked injured lying by the pool. Saunders was staying in room 113, right next to the pool area.

She said she saw what appeared to be five injured teenagers lying right in a row on the ground.

“I walked and they were all laying side by side,” Saunders said.

Saunders also said she heard screaming coming from up and down the hallway.

Standing in the parking lot recounting the events, she said the only effects she felt herself was a bit of a headache.

Swanson said he could not confirm these accounts.

Multiple authorities responded to the scene that morning, including Michigan State Police, Berrien County Sherriff’s Department, Niles Fire Department, Clay Fire Department and ambulances from SMCAS and Edwardsburg Ambulances.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the matter through out the day, Swanson said. They are not sure how the leak started.

“We have started an investigation to see where the leak was coming from and what the issue is,” Swanson said.

Quality Inn officials were unwilling to comment.