An elderly man died and two women were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning in Cortandone d’Asti, Italy, on Sunday, February 8th, authorities reported. The incident, traced to a malfunctioning heater, prompted a fire department investigation and the sequestration of the affected residence.
Saharaoui Belbarodi, 73, a Moroccan national, died at a hospital in Asti following a heart attack related to the poisoning, according to reports from ANSA and La Stampa. His daughter, born in 1981, and granddaughter, born in 2014, were transported to the hyperbaric chamber at the oxygen therapy department in Turin for treatment and remain under observation.
Emergency services were alerted around 5:00 PM on Sunday when a family member began experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and contacted authorities. Firefighters responding to the scene immediately detected the presence of the toxic gas and determined it originated from a faulty heater located on the first floor of the home on Via Costa 2, La Stampa reported.
The fire department’s investigative unit has seized the property, acting on a magistrate’s order, to determine the precise cause of the incident and assess any potential liabilities. The incident follows a similar tragedy in Porcari, where four people died from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Corriere di Torino.
The conditions of Belbarodi’s daughter and granddaughter were described as stable but under observation as of Monday, February 9th. Authorities have not released further details regarding the type of heater involved or the extent of the malfunction.