Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) -- A terminal at Melbourne Airport shared by Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. and regional carrier Rex was evacuated for eight hours after passengers and staff became ill.

About 700 people were evacuated from the terminal just after 10 a.m. as authorities searched for the cause of the illness, which caused at least 47 people to be taken to hospital with nausea and dizziness. Virgin Blue and Regional Express flights were grounded 6 p.m. while the terminal's baggage, food handling, staff and passenger areas were tested, Metropolitan Fire Brigade Acting Assistant Fire Chief Peter Holmes said in an interview.

The terminal was reopened at 6 p.m., even though chemical assessment teams from state and federal government departments and emergency services were unable to identify the source of the irritant. ``We haven't worked out what it was,'' Holmes said. ``There's certainly no contaminant or anything else in the building, it's been thoroughly sampled and checked and there's nothing in here.''

Passengers on incoming flights were bussed to a freight terminal, Melbourne Airport spokeswoman Brooke Lord said. At least 10 Virgin Blue planes were stranded at Melbourne during the closure of the terminal, airline spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said. Delays are expected to continue into the night, she said. Shares of Brisbane-based Virgin Blue fell 2 cents to A$2.00 at the 4 p.m. market close in Sydney.

Qantas flights, which depart from the airport's other terminal, were not affected by the evacuation, airline spokesman Simon Rushton said. Qantas had offered stranded travelers discount fares and put on an extra 150-seat flight to Sydney, he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Barbara Adam in Melbourne at badam2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 21, 2005 02:19 EST