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Honduran family found dead in their Minnesota home. They suspect they died of carbon monoxide poisoning

2021-12-21T01:24:13.156Z


"It is an absolutely horrible tragedy," authorities said. There were no signs of violence. Three of the deceased were children. The family is now waiting for the cause of death to be confirmed.


A family of

at least seven people, including three children

, was found dead in a house in the town of Moorhead, Minnesota, Saturday night with no signs of violence at the scene, authorities said.

Police in Moorhead, a small town northwest of Minneapolis, reported that the victims were three young people between the ages of 30 and 40, two teenagers, 19 and 16, and two boys ages 7 and 5.

The family, with surnames Hernández and Pinto, came from San Francisco de Yojoa, Cortés, in

Honduras

, according to the country's local newspaper Noticias Digital.

"The municipality is in mourning," the platform announced.

The Police have not yet determined what happened in the house, but it was ruled out that there had been a violent situation or forced entry.

"The preliminary autopsy has ruled out any obvious trauma as a cause of death," it was further stated in a statement.

Authorities said the investigation is still ongoing and autopsies are pending, but first reports from family members indicate they may have died from

accidental carbon monoxide poisoning

while sleeping.

[How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Your Home]

Moorhead police received a call around 7:50 pm (local time) warning that "several individuals were found dead inside a home," according to a statement.

"Baby, please, I need you": the dramatic 911 calls of carbon monoxide victims

April 29, 202103: 15

Relatives of the victims had been

inspecting the safety and well-being of the home

when they discovered the bodies of their loved ones.

Then they will call the 911 emergency number, said the local KARE, a CNN affiliate.

"Upon arrival, the first rescuers confirmed the death of several people," said the police, who specified that there were "no signs of violence or forced entry."

"This is an absolutely horrible tragedy,

made all the more poignant by the proximity of the holidays,

" Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson told local newspaper The Star Tribune.

"My heart goes out to the family and friends who received this devastating news over the weekend," added Carlson.

How to heat the home without risks?

The freezing temperatures have led families across the country to seek alternatives to heat their homes, to which experts recommend 

taking precautions to avoid accidents

.

Carbon monoxide is found in combustion fumes produced not only from automobiles, but also from small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning wood and charcoal, gas ranges, and other heating systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer these simple tips to prevent poisoning when trying to generate a heat source. 

Low temperatures in Texas increase risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

Feb. 17, 202101: 54

 A gas stove or oven

should never be used

to heat a home, nor should a charcoal grill, hibachi, lamp, or portable camp stove be used indoors. 

The engine of

a vehicle parked

 in an enclosed or semi-enclosed area, such as a garage,

should also not be left running 

.  

Space 

heaters

 that consume fuel and do not have a ventilation outlet should only be used when a person is awake to watch them and the doors or windows of the room are open to allow fresh air to enter, specialists indicate. 

Finally, when using a generator you must have a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector or backup batteries.

What other measures can be taken?

Furnaces, water heaters, gas dryers, hearths and their chimneys 

should be inspected

 every year. 

[Cold weather can cause hypothermia: these are the warning signs]

It is also recommended that car exhaust systems be regularly inspected for defects as well as tailpipes for snow blockages in the winter.

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2021-12-21

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