About 25 people were in the hall. At around 8:13 p.m., five underage visitors between the ages of ten and 17 and one adult suddenly collapsed. They had partially lost consciousness and were immediately taken outside. The Karthalle was evacuated immediately, paramedics and the emergency doctor were alerted. A total of ten visitors had to be admitted to the Wolfsberg and Klagenfurt clinics.
The firefighters were equipped with CO measuring devices, which showed a significantly increased carbon monoxide value. Most patients were allowed to leave the hospital on Sunday. “We immediately ventilated the hall,” said fire brigade commander Christoph Gerak in an interview with the “Kleine Zeitung”. The high proportion of carbon monoxide in the air was probably caused by the exhaust fumes from the motorized karts.
- Video: Carbon monoxide poisoning in Karthalle
“The background is still unclear,” said Lisa Sandrieser, spokeswoman for the Carinthian State Police Directorate. The exact cause is now the subject of investigations and must be clarified by experts. The hall remained closed until further notice.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is produced, for example, when fossil fuels are burned when the supply of oxygen is insufficient. It is toxic to humans because it cuts off the transport of oxygen in the bloodstream, which can lead to death by asphyxiation.
Tragedy in Lasberg
The incident in Carinthia is reminiscent of the deadly tragedy in Lasberg in the Freistadt district at the end of July last year. Severe storms had led to power cuts, which is why the father of the family switched on a petrol-powered generator in the basement. The mother and her two children – aged two and five – passed out immediately as they went down to the basement. The children did not survive the CO poisoning.
Source: Nachrichten
