Several children have sustained “significant injuries” after a hazardous substance was mistakenly used as a detergent and poured onto a waterslide at a New Zealand daycare center.

Emergency services swiftly responded to the incident, which occurred at a daycare facility on Ferry Road in Christchurch this afternoon.

According to the St John ambulance service, one individual is in serious condition, while six others have sustained moderate injuries.

Chris Harrison, the national operations manager for St John, reported that a total of 40 individuals were assessed, including one in serious condition and six with moderate injuries.

Six of the patients, including an adult teacher, were transported to the hospital for further treatment.

St John later confirmed that an additional moderately injured adult was also admitted to the hospital.

He said the injuries were chemical burns with “a bit of blistering”.

They were decontaminated at the scene and then transported to Christchurch City Hospital.

Two others had minor injuries and were given advice for if they needed assistance later on and the other children were uninjured and had gone home with their parents.

Harrison confirmed the product had been poured down the slide and the children had slid down it.

He said there was a teacher at the base of it in a paddling pool.

Fourteen St John vehicles were in attendance and two children and an adult were seen being placed in ambulances.

A young girl who looked to be about three or four years old was carried out wrapped in a blanket.

Chris Lynch reported that a four-year-old girl had been transported to Christchurch Hospital with serious burns to her legs and buttocks from a chemical liquid spill.

A parent, who did not want to be named, said she hadn’t heard anything from the daycare, but her child was in good health.

Two other parents Stuff spoke to at the scene said they also weren’t notified about the incident, they came to collect their children after seeing media reports.