Generator fumes kill family of 6; couple, two children, in-law in Anambra

The deaths of a couple, their two children, and other people at their home in Nkwele Ezunaka, Onitsha, have been verified by the Anambra State Police Command.

According to reports, the guy, his wife, two children, mother-in-law, and an apprentice passed away on Wednesday after breathing in deadly fumes from a generator.

City Round learned that the man’s wife had recently given birth, so as a surprise gift for her, he set up the family’s relocation to their new home.

It was the family’s first night in their new home, according to local sources, who also stated that only the four-day-old baby survived.

According to the source, the incident came to light when a friend who had been invited to join them for the celebration that evening but was unable to do so went to the house and saw that the doors were closed and the generator was still running.

He said, “The entire members of the family were in their new house celebrating when suddenly there was a power outage. The man put on the generator stationed at the verandah close to the bedroom.

“The celebration continued into the night before they all slept off and didn’t remember to switch off the generator. The next morning, a friend who was supposed to join them in the celebration but couldn’t meet up, went to the deceased’s house only to discover that the doors were locked with the generator still running.

“After knocking for some time without response, he alerted other neighbours, who forced the door open and saw the lifeless bodies; it was only the four-day-old baby that survived.

“The wife and one of the daughters were still unconscious when they were rushed to the hospital, but efforts to resuscitate them, including placing them on oxygen, failed, and they were pronounced dead.”

Rev. Fr. Izunna Okonkwo, the manager of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital in Onitsha, where the victims were taken after being transported there, reported that only the newborn child had survived.

According to sources, the middle-aged man, who went by the name Ifeanyi, was a trader at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market and was from Enugu State.

Tochukwu Ikenga, a spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, who also verified the occurrence to our correspondent on Friday, said investigators were still trying to determine what caused the tragedy.

“The matter is still being investigated and the details will be communicated as soon as investigation is concluded,” he added.