Five Family Members Found Dead on 80-Year-Old Mother's Birthday Gathering

At a House in Muju, Jeonbuk... 1 Person Under Treatment
Police Suspect Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Due to Burst Oil Boiler Vent

A suspected gas poisoning accident occurred at a house in Muju, Jeonbuk, resulting in the deaths of five family members. The photo shows firefighters inspecting the scene. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Five family members gathered at a rural house to celebrate the 80th birthday of their elderly mother were found dead in an incident suspected to be caused by gas poisoning.

According to Muju Police Station and Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters on the 9th, at around 4:54 PM, five people including an 80-year-old grandmother, Ms. A, her son-in-law, and granddaughter were found dead in a house in Mupung-myeon, Muju-gun, Jeonbuk. Ms. A's daughter, Ms. B (57), who was with them, was unconscious when found and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

It is reported that they had gathered the day before to celebrate Ms. A's birthday. The police responded to a report from Ms. A's son stating that he could not contact his family and discovered Ms. A and others collapsed inside the room. Based on the presence of rigor mortis in the deceased, the police estimate the time of death to be between the previous night and the morning of the day found.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the exact cause and circumstances of the accident, as the oil boiler's flue pipe at the scene appears to have been damaged, leading to a gas leak and suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.