A 66-year-old Singaporean tourist has died at a hotel on Italy’s Mount Etna, with Italian authorities investigating whether the death could be connected to carbon monoxide exposure after other guests were later affected by the gas.
The man, identified by Italian media as Lee Kim Saint Vincint, died on Sept. 16 while staying at the Rifugio Sapienza, a hotel located on Mount Etna in Sicily. Initial attention reportedly focused on a possible medical emergency, but prosecutors subsequently ordered further investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The hotel was temporarily closed following the death before reopening several days later. After guests returned, several people reportedly developed symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, prompting emergency services and authorities to inspect the building.
Italian reports said carbon monoxide was detected in multiple areas of the hotel, including rooms located above the kitchen. The highest concentration was reportedly recorded in the room occupied by the Singaporean tourist.
Investigators are examining whether the gas may have originated from a malfunction involving an LPG-powered boiler and its exhaust system. Firefighters reportedly identified a possible connection between the equipment and the affected rooms, although the precise cause has not yet been conclusively established.
The later poisoning incident affected other people staying and working at the hotel. Reports initially said dozens of guests and employees were affected, while subsequent Italian reporting described four guests as having suffered carbon monoxide intoxication. The differing figures reflect developments as authorities continued assessing the incident.
The Catania Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the two incidents to determine whether they are connected. The hotel has also been placed under preventive seizure as investigators examine its safety systems and the circumstances surrounding the gas exposure.
Italian prosecutors have begun investigating possible negligent homicide and negligent injury in connection with the case. The hotel’s legal representative has been placed under investigation as part of the process, which Italian authorities said is necessary to carry out forensic and technical examinations.
An autopsy was ordered on the Singaporean tourist to help determine the cause of death. His family has also appointed a lawyer to represent its interests during the investigation.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas that can build up when fuel-burning equipment is not properly vented. Exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and loss of consciousness, and high concentrations can be fatal.
The case has therefore raised concerns about the safety of fuel-burning equipment and ventilation in accommodation facilities, particularly in buildings where boilers or other combustion systems are located near guest rooms.
Authorities have not yet established that carbon monoxide caused the Singaporean tourist’s death. The investigation and autopsy will be important in determining whether the death was linked to the gas detected at the hotel and whether the two incidents were part of the same event.
For now, the investigation remains ongoing as Italian prosecutors, firefighters and forensic specialists examine the hotel’s equipment, ventilation system and the circumstances surrounding the tourist’s death.
