Algiers - Algeria-February 5, 2023

The Algerian Civil Protection announced

The death of five members of one family in the south of the country poisoned by carbon monoxide gas emitted by a fireplace, bringing the number of deaths from such accidents to more than 60 since the beginning of the year.

The Civil Protection said in a statement: "Our paramedics intervened at 14:00 (13:00 GMT) in the municipality of Hassi RAML, state of Al-agouat (530 km south of Algeria), for an accident of carbon monoxide poisoning emitted by the heater".

"The accident left 5 deaths from one family,"she added.

January, marked by snowfall and low temperatures, saw 54 people die from inhaling the deadly gas, according to the civil protection, while at least 500 people were rescued.

Since the beginning of February, nine people have died, according to civil protection data. During 2022, 103 people died from inhalation of this gas.

The government has launched a wide awareness campaign on the dangers of leaks of carbon monoxide, which is "colorless and odorless," and has also decided to distribute free alarms to all natural gas users.

The state electricity and gas company announced that it will soon acquire 22 million alarms to supply all homes.