Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200812/20081219/article_385100.htm
Gas-leak deaths ruled suicide
Created: 2008-12-19 1:36:44
Author:Lu Feiran
A GAS leak that claimed three lives in Shanghai on December 8 was started deliberately as part of a suicide, according to the preliminary investigation by the police, local construction and transport authorities said yesterday.
Police gave no further details about the suicide.
A Shanghai couple and their son were found dead at their home on Lanxi Road in Putuo District after neighbors smelt gas and called the police. Police confirmed the deaths were caused by gas poisoning.
The case aroused authorities' concern as it was the second fatal gas accident in two days. On December 7 in Luwan District a gas leak killed an elderly couple, their daughter-in-law and their granddaughter.
The Shanghai Construction and Transport Management Commission said 24 people died from gas poisoning this winter up to December 8, about 15 percent more than last year.
Another 72 were injured, a rise of about 41 percent, officials said.
Near 60 percent of cases were caused by improper use of water heaters, other causes included improper use of cookers and installing gas pipes without permission.
Officials said 90 percent of residents didn't use gas detectors, and more than half were still using unsafe cookers or water heaters.
Many people, especially those who rented apartments and migrant workers, were not fully aware of the significance of gas safety, while landlords were often unwilling to provide new, safe cookers and heaters.
Officials are going to promote the safe use of water heaters and gas cookers and will publish gas safety ads in the local media.
They will also carry out inspections in areas where accidents have been frequent and ask neighborhood committees and property management offices to urge residents to replace old or faulty cookers or water heaters with new, fully functioning apparatus.
Police gave no further details about the suicide.
A Shanghai couple and their son were found dead at their home on Lanxi Road in Putuo District after neighbors smelt gas and called the police. Police confirmed the deaths were caused by gas poisoning.
The case aroused authorities' concern as it was the second fatal gas accident in two days. On December 7 in Luwan District a gas leak killed an elderly couple, their daughter-in-law and their granddaughter.
The Shanghai Construction and Transport Management Commission said 24 people died from gas poisoning this winter up to December 8, about 15 percent more than last year.
Another 72 were injured, a rise of about 41 percent, officials said.
Near 60 percent of cases were caused by improper use of water heaters, other causes included improper use of cookers and installing gas pipes without permission.
Officials said 90 percent of residents didn't use gas detectors, and more than half were still using unsafe cookers or water heaters.
Many people, especially those who rented apartments and migrant workers, were not fully aware of the significance of gas safety, while landlords were often unwilling to provide new, safe cookers and heaters.
Officials are going to promote the safe use of water heaters and gas cookers and will publish gas safety ads in the local media.
They will also carry out inspections in areas where accidents have been frequent and ask neighborhood committees and property management offices to urge residents to replace old or faulty cookers or water heaters with new, fully functioning apparatus.
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