No fewer than twelve people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a ski resort in Georgia, police have said.
The deaths of 11 tourists and one Georgian national were discovered in a sleeping space above a restaurant in Gudauri, the former Soviet state’s largest and highest ski resort, according to officials.
Police said, “Preliminary tests do not indicate any trace of violence on the bodies,” and it appeared to be an accident, the AFP news agency reported.
Officers said an oil-powered generator was turned on after the facility lost power on Friday.
The dead were discovered on Saturday on the second floor of a building holding an Indian eatery.
Authorities have launched an inquiry following the incident, and the victims’ identities have not yet been published.
Gudauri is a renowned tourist destination for ski and snowboard lovers, offering a variety of winter sports activities for guests of all skill levels.
Its history stretches back to the nineteenth century, when it served as a commercial centre along the ancient Georgian Military Road that connected Russia and Georgia.
Gudauri is located in the Caucasus mountains of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, approximately 2,200m (7,200ft) above sea level and 120km (75 miles) north of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
