HOUSTON – A 78-year-old man was found dead and eight others were injured Saturday morning after being exposed to carbon monoxide in a southwest Houston apartment, fire officials said.
Houston Fire Department responded to a possible carbon monoxide leak at the Aberdeen apartments around 11:43 a.m. in the 9900 block of Richmond Avenue.
Amit Airon, a spokesperson for the complex, said the man lived alone in building four.
Eight others who live in that building were taken to the hospital and the rest of the residents were told to evacuate until further notice.
Airon said only residents in building four have been told to leave and gas to that building has been shut off while they investigate the exact cause of the leak.
The other buildings are not affected, he said.
They use gas to heat the water.
“We are very sad and shocked by this,” Airon said.
Cellphone video recorded by a resident showed people getting treated by fire fighters, including a baby and small child. Many others were taken away on stretchers.
“They asked me questions like if I was dizzy,” said 10-year-old Ashley Fatto.
Fatto and her stepdad were inside their apartment when fire fighters knocked on their door and told them to leave. They said their neighbor is the person who called 911 and reported the problem this morning.
“Her cousin was sick and vomiting,” Fatto said. “And then this morning they were sick so they called the fire department.”
“Oh, it’s scary,” Fatto’s stepdad said, Crispin Bismark. “We don’t know for how long this has been happening.”
Apartment management gave letters to residents in building four, telling them they need to temporarily leave their apartments until further notice, possibly until Monday.
Airon said they are working to find places for residents to stay.
They have been instructed to open their doors and windows to ventilate the apartments and security will be on site to keep an eye on things.
Fire officials said the cause of the leak is unknown. The incident is under investigation.