Carbon monoxide leaked into a recording studio at a converted factory building in New Jersey on Saturday, killing two people and sickening a dozen others, authorities said. The cause and source of the carbon monoxide poisoning is under investigation by the county prosecutor's office, CBS New York reported.
At about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, police officials responded to a 911 call from an individual who had discovered two people passed out inside a recording booth in the mixed-use commercial building, Passaic's Mayor Alex Blanco said at a news conference.
"This is a sad day for the city of Passaic," said the mayor of the blue collar city, which is located about 15 miles west of New York. The victims' identities have not been released.
Once there, authorities discovered two dead people in the recording booth on the second floor of the three-story building, while 12 other victims were seen fleeing in a "dazed state" as they "experienced confusion and were choking" in a shared space on the building's second floor. Two unidentified victims had been pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Associated Press.
Emergency crews rushed the other sick victims to three area hospitals, where they are currently receiving treatment, city spokesman Keith Furlong said.
Carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness or death, is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by car engines, gas ranges or heating systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
At a press conference, Blanco said the quick response of police and firefighters, supported by first responders from neighboring communities, had helped secure the scene and prevent further fatalities, Reuters reported.
Additionally, Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said the building's sprinkler system was intact, as was the fire alarm system.
"I want to thank the police department, fire, EMS and prosecutors for their fast search and rescue mission that was done," Blanco said. "If it wasn't for their quickness, there'd be more fatalities."
