Paramedics attend to Virgin Blue staff members.

A Virgin Blue airline staff member (R) is taken away from Melbourne airport.

Flights were canceled after thousands of passengers were affected by unidentified fumes at Melbourne Airport, Australia, on Monday. Fifty-two people who were suffering dizziness, shortness of breath and vomiting have been taken to hospital.

    CANBERRA, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Flights were canceled after thousands of passengers were affected by unidentified fumes at Melbourne Airport, Australia, on Monday.

    The south terminal of the airport, used by Australia's Virgin Blue and Regional Express airlines, was shut down earlier on Monday and 700 passengers were evacuated from the building, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.

    Fifty-two people who were suffering dizziness, shortness of breath and vomiting have been taken to hospital.

    Virgin Blue has been forced to cancel 15 flights.

    "There are no flights going out of Melbourne up until the emergency services clears the area," Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger was quoted as saying.

    Firefighters are trying to determine if it is a chemical leak of some sort that has caused the incident. Enditem