3 US tourists reportedly died from carbon monoxide poisoning at Belizean luxury resort
The three women were all reportedly exposed to carbon monoxide before their deaths, with each registering carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60%.
Three U.S. tourists who were found dead in a luxury resort in Belize reportedly died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The three Revere, Massachusetts women — Kaoutar Naqqad, 23; Imane Mallah, 24; and Wafae El-Arar, 26 — were found dead inside their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on Feb. 22, according to WCVB and CBS News.
Gian Cho, executive director of the Belize National Forensic Science Service, confirmed in a toxicology report obtained by the outlets that the three women died of acute pulmonary edema, which was triggered by excessive carbon monoxide exposure.
The tourists were all exposed to carbon monoxide before their deaths, with each registering carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60%, according to the toxicology report reviewed by CBS News. A fatal level is 40%. Police believe the women may have been exposed to the gas from a faulty heater in their hotel room, WCVB reported.
"Their bodies exhibited no signs of injuries," Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams said, per the Boston, Massachusetts-based TV station. "Police also saw inside their room what appeared to be vomiting beside each female."
Paste BN contacted the Belize National Forensic Science Service and Belizean police on Thursday but has not received a response.
Women's families urged Belizean authorities to share more information
As a result of the findings, Williams also said authorities have conducted a second test of the hotel room for carbon monoxide after initial testing turned up negative, CBS News reported. He said they are still awaiting the final results.
"We are deeply alarmed by news reports which suggest that carbon monoxide levels in the hotel could have been at dangerously high levels and that the resort has now suddenly closed without public explanation," the three women's families said in a joint statement earlier this week shared with NBC Boston. "We believe the families of all guests – past and future – deserve a clear explanation for this action."
"We respectfully urge the resort’s management and Belizean authorities to share any information they have immediately, so that no other family has to endure the unimaginable pain we must now bear. Our loved ones deserve transparency and all who visit Belize, especially the resort, deserve to know they are safe," it continued.
Gummies and alcohol found in the three women's hotel room
Last month, Belize police said they only found alcohol and "gummies" in the hotel room where the women were discovered but WCVB said the toxicology report did not detect drugs in their systems. Williams did not clarify if the gummies contained THC.
"The police did a thorough search of the scene, along with the pathologists ... There was nothing of substance that could have been found other than alcohol and some gummies," Williams said at the time, per Channel5Belize and 7NewsBelize. “We’re not saying at this time that the gummies cause death, but we’re looking at every possibility.”
The police commissioner added that investigators were looking into whether the gummies were bought locally or if the women brought them on the trip.
Security footage showed the women entering their room on Thursday, but no video was captured of them leaving or anyone going inside before they were discovered on Saturday, according to local reports, citing Belize police.
"Based on what the pathologist said when he visited on Saturday evening is that they could have been dead 20 hours prior, so that would take us back to Friday or Thursday that they eventually died," Williams said.
Revere mayor says Belizean authorities lack transparency
The city of Revere, located about seven miles outside of Boston, continues to mourn the three women, with Mayor Patrick M. Keefe Jr. releasing a statement upon their deaths.
"I was deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of Kaoutar Naqqad, Imane Mallah, and Wafae El-Arar, three young women who were valued members of the Revere community," Keefe said. "On behalf of the entire City of Revere, I extend my condolences to their families and loved ones during this time of unimaginable loss."
The mayor also questioned the three women's deaths and the Belizean authorities' pending investigation.
"The information we have received thus far from the Belizean authorities leaves our grieving community with too many questions: These are daughters, friends, and contributors to our City, and I have heard widespread concern from the families and community members about the lack of transparency in this investigation, and the media narrative painted by Belizean authorities," Keefe said.
Keefe also noted that the Department of State issued a Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" travel advisory for the country in December due to increased crime risks, adding that state officials will "exhaust all avenues, both domestic and abroad, to ensure proper and fair analysis of this case."
The families of Kaoutar, Wafae, and Imane have created GoFundMe pages to raise money for funerals and other expenses related to their deaths, which have raised more than $90,000 in total.
“The City of Revere extends our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the three local women who tragically and unexpectedly passed away in Belize,” a Facebook post from the city said.