TWELVE people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a popular tourist ski resort in Georgia, cops have said.
The bodies of 11 foreigners and one Georgian national were found in a sleeping area above a restaurant in Gudauri, in the north of the Caucasus country.
Police said “preliminary tests do not indicate any trace of violence on the bodies,” which were discovered on the second floor of a building housing an Indian food restaurant at the ski resort.
An oil-powered generator had been switched on after the building lost electricity on Friday, officers added.
The authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released.
Georgia is a former Soviet republic, with its western part lying on the coast of the Black Sea and its north nestled in the Caucasus mountains.
The mountains are in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region at around 7,200ft above sea level and 75 miles north of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.
Gudauri is a hugely popular tourist destination for skiers and snowboarders, with a range of winter sports activities for visitors of any level.
Its history goes back to the 19th Century when it was renowned as a trading post on the ancient Georgian Military Road connecting Russia with Georgia.
Known as the “silent killer”, carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas, that can cause serious injuries or even death if inhaled.
More than 200 British and Irish residents are taken to hospital as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning each year.
If inhaled, the gas can quickly enter a person’s bloodstream, making it unable to carry oxygen. The body’s cells and tissue then begin to fail, and eventually die.
Although the poisoning is treatable, between 10 and 15 per cent of people affected develop long-term complications of some description.
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood don’t burn fully.
Cigarette smoke, burning charcoal and car engines also produce CO gas.
The risk of being affected at home is increased if you live in a caravan, boat or mobile home.
