Multiple Deaths from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Pohang, Muju, and Other Areas
Inspection of Boiler Exhaust Pipes and Fire Extinguishers Needed
At around 4:54 PM on the 9th, a suspected gas poisoning accident occurred at a house in Mupung-myeon, Muju-gun, Jeonbuk, resulting in the deaths of five people, including an octogenarian identified as Mr. A. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] As temperatures have recently dropped, accidents such as gas poisoning and fires have been occurring across the country. According to the police on the 14th, a motel in Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, where three women in their 60s and 70s died from carbon monoxide poisoning on the 9th, had not undergone any gas inspections since it began operations in 2014.
According to the police's on-site verification, the rooms in the motel, which uses a central heating system, did not have gas detectors inside, and although there was a gas detector in the underground boiler room, it did not sound at the time of the accident. It is presumed that the accident was caused by carbon monoxide entering through the ventilation duct above the motel room ceiling via pipes installed on the building's exterior wall.
Earlier on the 9th, around 12:16 PM, a woman in her 70s was found dead in the motel. Two others who were with her were transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and with impaired consciousness, but they died on the 10th and 11th respectively. An autopsy revealed that their blood contained over 60% carbon monoxide. When the carbon monoxide concentration exceeds 50%, even healthy adults can die.
On the same day around 5 PM, in a detached house in Mupung-myeon, Muju-gun, gas leaked from a boiler, resulting in five deaths and one person remaining unconscious. According to police investigations, all the deceased had carbon monoxide levels of approximately 20 to 60 ppm in their bodies.
At around 5 p.m. on the 9th, an incident suspected to be carbon monoxide poisoning occurred at a house in Mupung-myeon, Muju-gun, Jeonbuk, resulting in the deaths of five people including an octogenarian Mr. A, and one person in their 50s was critically injured and transported to the hospital. The photo shows the house where the oil boiler was installed at the time. Photo by Yonhap News
The cause of both accidents, 'carbon monoxide,' is highly toxic but invisible and odorless, posing a risk of death within hours if exposed without protection. According to the Korea Gas Safety Corporation, among 55 people who died or were injured in gas boiler accidents from 2016 to 2020, 54 were due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
For boilers that have not been used during spring and summer, the exhaust pipes may be twisted or bent, causing poor ventilation. To prevent accidents, it is necessary to have the exhaust pipes inspected before turning on the boiler. When the exhaust pipe is twisted, incomplete combustion is likely to occur, and the carbon monoxide generated during this process may not be discharged outdoors, increasing the risk of accidents.
The risk of fire is also high, so attention such as checking fire extinguishers is necessary. According to the Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters, in the past five years (2017?2021), there were 2,254 fire incidents in Seoul in October (an average of 450.8 per year), accounting for 8.0% of the total 28,266 fire incidents during the period. Choi Tae-young, head of the Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters, said, "In October, when autumn is in full swing, minor carelessness often leads to actual fires and safety accidents," and urged, "We ask for the interest and practice of all citizens to prevent fires and safety accidents."
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