Three workers die from carbon monoxide in closed bar in La Paz
Two women and a man died in a nightclub near Plaza Uyuni after inhaling carbon monoxide. The establishment had been shut down weeks earlier.
Three dead from poisoning in closed nightclub in La Paz
Two women and a man died inside a bar located near Plaza Uyuni in the city of La Paz, according to reduno.com.bo. A forensic autopsy determined that all three victims died from carbon monoxide inhalation.
The victims were employees of the establishment: the man worked as a security guard and the two women were part of the staff. The three reportedly remained in the local consuming alcoholic beverages until midday.
Gas leak as probable cause
The departmental commander of the La Paz Police, Colonel Ricardo César Terrazas del Pozo, explained the main hypothesis: "These people probably died from carbon monoxide poisoning, since they were consuming alcoholic beverages until midday inside this local. And they would have been with gas stoves, which very likely had a leak and that would be the cause of the death of these three people."
The departmental director of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) of La Paz, Colonel Jorge Sologuren, confirmed that investigators searched the establishment and collected a gas canister and a stove as evidence. Fire service personnel intervened to clear the air in the local.
"We have been informed that two women and one man would have died. Therefore, a search of the scene has been carried out, and a gas canister and a stove are being collected. Apparently it would be from carbon monoxide inhalation," said Sologuren.
Local had been closed three weeks earlier
One of the central elements of the investigation is the legal status of the establishment. Terrazas del Pozo revealed that the local had been intervened and closed weeks earlier in a joint operation with the Municipal Government, but it returned to operating.
"Three weeks ago it was intervened, it was closed jointly with the Municipal Government, but it began to operate again," said the police chief.
Sologuren indicated that they would review the background and previous complaints against the establishment to determine if there had been earlier interventions. "It would be to check with dates and times of the complaints it would have had. However, the situation and the legal status of this local is the responsibility of the Municipal Government," clarified the Felcc director.
A woman taken in for investigation
In the course of the investigation, a woman was taken to police facilities as a person under investigation. Sologuren explained that she is the cleaning staff member of the local, who reportedly assisted the two female victims.
"It is a lady who would be the cleaning lady who would have assisted the two women," he concluded.
The three victims were initially transferred to a hospital, but medical staff confirmed their death upon admission. The Police continue with the investigation to clarify all circumstances of the case, including responsibility for the irregular operation of the establishment.
Source: Google News BO — La Paz