A devastating sequence of carbon monoxide poisonings has struck the Fergana region of Uzbekistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of multiple family members within a span of days. On October 25, seven members of a single family perished in the village of Chimyon, Fergana district, followed by another catastrophe on November 1 in the city of Kokand, where five more individuals—including three young children—lost their lives due to toxic gas leaks.

Official inspections revealed a alarming common denominator: both affected households were utilizing imported German-made Vaillant dual-circuit heating boilers. According to regional emergency services, these units were actually obsolete, scrap-grade appliances that had already been discarded abroad and were unfit for further use. Unscrupulous local operators allegedly smuggled the decommissioned machinery into Uzbekistan as spare parts, cobbled them together in makeshift conditions to resemble new units, and deceptively marketed them to unsuspecting residents.

Authorities stressed that the substandard boilers were imported without their essential, certified flue systems. Instead, unsafe polyethylene pipes—which rapidly lose structural integrity and degrade under high temperatures—were installed. This dangerous makeshift setup inevitably led to lethal gas leaks inside the residential properties, causing swift asphyxiation.

In response to the mounting fatalities, the regional emergency department has issued an urgent public warning, demanding that citizens immediately stop using Vaillant boilers and thoroughly inspect any alternative heating equipment with the assistance of certified professionals. The incident underscores persistent safety enforcement challenges, echoing a previous tragedy in Tashkent where six individuals similarly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Source: kun.uz