12 Die at Georgian Ski Resort From Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Twelve people were found dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Gudauri, a ski area in the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The people were found on Friday in a resting area above an Indian restaurant, where all of the victims were employed. Officials reported no evidence of violence, but found a power generator nearby. The device had been plugged in the previous day and left inside, probably after the restaurant lost power, the police said.

One of the 12 who died was a Georgian national, and the other 11 were from other countries, the police said. The deaths are being investigated as negligent homicides, officials said in a statement.

Gudauri, near the Russian border, is the largest and highest resort in the country, making it a popular destination for skiing and paragliding.

Power generators are supposed to be run only outdoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In the United States, portable generators are some of the deadliest household products, in large part because of their carbon monoxide emissions and the tendency to run them indoors.