Two German tourists aged 34 and 42 were rushed to hospital in critical condition after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning inside a hotel room in Mallorca, Spain.
The incident occurred on August 30 at a resort in El Arenal, located on the island's southern coast. Relatives of the two women became concerned when they failed to make contact for several hours, leading hotel staff to inspect their room.
Upon entering the room, hotel employees discovered both travelers unconscious. Emergency responders were summoned, and the holidaymakers were urgently transferred to a nearby medical facility in critical condition.
Pipe leak triggers police investigation
Medical personnel at the hospital confirmed that the women were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. The toxic gas had leaked into their room from a pipe running through the accommodation.
The day before the women were found, other hotel guests had complained of a scratchy sensation in their throats and subsequently moved to a different room. Local police in Mallorca have opened an investigation into the cause of the pipe failure.
Details of the incident were reported by Bild, the widely circulated German daily newspaper. The publication reported that local law enforcement authorities are investigating how the hazardous gas accumulated inside the guest room.
Risks of carbon monoxide in holiday resorts
El Arenal, also known as S'Arenal, is a famous resort town situated along the Bay of Palma on Mallorca, the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Located just east of the capital city of Palma de Mallorca, the area is a primary destination for tourists from Germany who visit the island's southern coast each year.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, making it impossible to detect without specialized electronic sensors. It is generated by faulty fuel-burning appliances, heating installations, or damaged exhaust pipes. Inhaling elevated levels of carbon monoxide in an enclosed room prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs, rapidly inducing loss of consciousness and posing severe health risks.
