A family of four was found dead in an apartment in Shwe Laung Road, Sanchaung Township, Yangon, after using a generator with an air conditioner. The incident was discovered on May 1st morning when neighbors reported a strong decomposition odor emanating from the apartment. The tragedy occurred in apartment 44, 4th floor (A), where the generator was placed in the back veranda of the apartment. The family members were found deceased inside their home, and it was determined that they had been dead for several days before the discovery, which only came to light when the decomposition smell became noticeable to nearby residents.
The deceased were identified as Ko Kaung, aged 30, his wife Ma Moe Sandar, aged 25, their son Maung Kaung Thet Paing, aged 8, and Ma Moe Sandar’s younger sister Ma Win Sandar, aged 16. A family pet dog was also found dead at the scene. According to fire and rescue personnel, the deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning that occurred while the family was sleeping with both the generator running and the air conditioner operating. The incident highlights the dangerous combination of using generators in enclosed spaces with air conditioning systems.
The family’s relative, Daw Aye Cho, Ko Kaung’s mother who resides in Mudita Housing, Ward 2, Mayangone Township, had attempted to contact her son without success. This led to her alerting authorities and neighbors, ultimately resulting in the discovery of the tragic deaths. Currently, Yangon is operating under the military council’s rotating power supply system, where electricity is provided for 4 hours followed by 8-hour blackouts. This situation has forced residents to rely heavily on generators for power. As a result, many residents in high-rise apartments, concerned about burglaries, secure their doors tightly while using generators and air conditioners simultaneously, creating potentially hazardous conditions. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with generator use in enclosed spaces, particularly when combined with air conditioning systems during the current power crisis in Yangon.
