Tragedy struck a New Taipei City household on Monday (Feb 2) when an 11-year-old girl died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, with seven other family members affected the following day.
The New Taipei City Fire Department received an emergency call around 2 p.m. from the girl’s mother, who lives in a five-story apartment with a rooftop addition on the sixth floor. The mother discovered her daughter unresponsive in a fifth-floor bedroom. Despite resuscitation efforts at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, the child was pronounced dead two hours later. Paramedics reported that by the time they arrived, the girl had already shown signs of livor mortis, indicating she had passed away before their arrival.
Initially, the rest of the family appeared unharmed. However, in the early hours of the next day, firefighters responded again to the same residence after seven household members showed signs of CO poisoning. A carbon monoxide detector measured a concentration of 37 ppm inside the home, exceeding legal limits.
Among those affected were the 30-year-old mother and a teenage niece, both experiencing dizziness but remaining conscious. The other five victims, including two women in their 20s and 40s and three children under five, were also conscious. All were sent to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Banqiao District for observation and treatment.
Preliminary investigations suggest the poisoning was linked to a water heater installed on the apartment’s back balcony. Poor ventilation in the area likely caused carbon monoxide to seep into the living quarters, with the girl’s bedroom located adjacent to the balcony, making her especially vulnerable.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
