Overview
- Emergency teams found three people with severe carbon monoxide poisoning in a second-floor apartment on Avenida Córdoba around 11:30 p.m. Monday; a 44-year-old woman and her 9-year-old son were declared dead at the scene and a 13-year-old was taken to Hospital Gutiérrez in serious condition.
- Responders included six SAME ambulances, a triage unit and private support, while firefighters cut gas supply and Metrogas was called to the site during the early response.
- Policía Científica carried out overnight forensic pericias and Fiscalía Criminal de Instrucción N.º 50, led by Dr. Edgardo Orfila, opened an active investigation into the cause of the leak.
- A preliminary peritaje reported by La Nación indicates the kitchen stove’s burners and oven were on—apparently used to dry clothes—and the room lacked the required upper ventilation grille, which would allow carbon monoxide to accumulate.
- Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and kills when combustion is incomplete or ventilation is poor; experts and officials say the case could prompt inspections, calls for ventilation compliance and wider use of CO detectors in homes.