Among the 22 residents of a Miami-Dade condominium who had to be hospitalized due to a carbon monoxide leak are Cubans.
Firefighters responded early Tuesday morning to an apartment complex where several people were feeling ill. Upon arrival, they detected a gas leak. In total, 60 people had to be evacuated and received assistance at the scene; of those, 22 were transported to local hospitals. All are reported to be out of danger.
"We were all scared; we started seeing chaos, people feeling dizzy, weak, and experiencing severe headaches," said Heidy Rodríguez, a young woman affected, in an interview with América TeVe.
"We hope that an investigation is conducted to find out what happened. Nothing like this has ever occurred before. We know the building is quite old, but we never expected something like this, honestly," she added.
Another evacuee, Ana Luis, a mother of a small child, learned of the situation when firefighters called her home. She grabbed her son and ran out immediately.
"They started taking away the people who felt sick and had low oxygen levels. Later, those of us who felt fine were tested, and anyone with elevated levels was taken away. We had to wait here," she explained.
Ana revealed that in the coming days, they will be without hot water because the gas leak was related to the water heater.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Hemingway Villa Condominium, located at the intersection of 94th Avenue and 40th Terrace in the southwest part of the county.
Erika Benítez, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Fire Department, reported that the source of the carbon monoxide appeared to be a heater in a room adjacent to several apartment units. Twenty-six fire units responded to the emergency and evacuated all residents, leaving the apartment doors open.
Erika Benítez reminded everyone that carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous. It is a colorless, tasteless gas, and those who inhale it experience headaches and nausea, but it can suddenly cause death.
Experts suggest that to protect oneself, it is crucial to install alarms in homes and check their functionality regularly.
Understanding the Miami Gas Leak Incident
This section addresses common questions about the recent gas leak in Miami, providing detailed answers to help residents and readers understand the situation better.
What caused the carbon monoxide leak in Miami?
The carbon monoxide leak was caused by a heater in a room adjacent to several apartment units at the Hemingway Villa Condominium.
How many people were affected by the gas leak?
A total of 60 people were evacuated, with 22 of them being transported to local hospitals. All are currently out of danger.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and weakness. In severe cases, it can lead to sudden death.
What safety measures can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
Installing carbon monoxide alarms in homes and checking their functionality regularly are crucial safety measures to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.