Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Eighteen people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in three separate incidents in Uzbekistan between late October and early November, the Emergency Situations Department of Ferghana region reported.
Seven members of one family died on 25 October in Ferghana district. On the same day, six people lost their lives in Tashkent. Another five people died from carbon monoxide poisoning on 1 November in Kokand.
According to the department, the incidents were caused by heating boilers installed in violation of safety requirements.
The agency reported that double-circuit Vaillant boilers that had previously been decommissioned and handed over for disposal in Germany were illegally imported into Uzbekistan. The equipment was then modified using makeshift methods and sold to consumers as new appliances.
The original flues on these boilers were replaced with polyethylene pipes that are not designed to withstand high temperatures.
The department also warned that covering ventilation ducts with fabric or other objects can lead to incomplete gas combustion and the release of carbon monoxide.
In response to the incidents, the Emergency Situations Department urged residents not to purchase or install old boilers that have been subjected to unauthorised modifications.
The agency also recommended that heating equipment be installed by qualified specialists. Consumers were advised to check for quality certificates and ensure that appliances comply with safety requirements.
