Patients and personnel fled an outpatient clinic at County-USC Medical Center Wednesday after smelling a "bleach-like" odor, authorities said.

About 30 people complaining of minor respiratory problems were taken to the main hospital at County-USC and two other hospitals, city Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

The incident occurred in an outpatient clinic that provides pediatric and family planning care.

About 100 employees and up to 200 patients evacuated the clinic before firefighters arrived shortly after 11 a.m., Humphrey said.

The source of the odor was not immediately known, he said.