But it turned out the "gas" that students smelt at a Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology library was a rotting durian found in a cupboard, reports the BBC.
The durian is a tropical fruit known for its strong, pungent smell.
Firefighters said the smell had moved through the building via the air conditioning system.
The building has now been reopened, Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade said.
Durians are a prized fruit in Southeast Asia with a sweet and creamy flesh, but their smell can take some getting used to.
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