Firefighters in Brussels intervened on Saturday afternoon at a house on Rue Louis Delhove in Ganshoren where six people, including four adults and two children, were poisoned by carbon monoxide.
They were all taken to hospital and none are in life-threatening condition.
“An emergency call was made to 112 on Saturday around 15:30, reporting several people experiencing nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and even fainting,” said Brussels fire brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw on Sunday.
Upon arrival, firefighters evacuated the six occupants, two of whom were unconscious in a basement room. High levels of carbon monoxide (CO) were detected, measuring 0.06% in the air. Exposure to this level for three hours can be fatal, warned the spokesperson.
The six occupants, including two children, were taken to Saint-Jean Hospital in Brussels and UZ VUB Hospital in Jette. The unconscious individuals regained consciousness. No one’s life is in immediate danger.
The cause of the poisoning was a makeshift exhaust system for the oil-fired boiler in the basement. Wind may have contributed to the gas being blown back into the house, added Derieuw. He advises that heating appliances are installed by certified technicians and are maintained regularly (annually for oil boilers and every two years for gas boilers). Proper venting of combustion gases and good ventilation are also key. The fire service urges households to install a carbon monoxide detector.
