Gas leak at mosque in Iran leaves 39 in severe condition: Reports

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Dozens of people were in critical condition on Tuesday after a carbon monoxide gas leak at a mosque in central Iran, state media reported, as a humanitarian organization said nearly 100 people were affected. 

Hussein Derakhshan, director of the Red Crescent in Semnan, announced “the poisoning of 95 individuals with carbon monoxide gas at the Jameh Mosque” in a report from the province’s control and coordination center.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also reported on the incident in Semnan city, citing the media director at Semnan University of Medical Sciences.

“[S]ome individuals resting at the mosque were exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning,” Karen Yahyay detailed.

Yahyay added that 39 people with more severe health conditions were transported to medical facilities, while others were treated on-site and are in stable health condition. 

The cause of the leak was not revealed.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It can result from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels such as natural gas or petrol.
 
The most common side effects of carbon monoxide exposure are fatigue, headaches, confusion, and dizziness.