Chen Xinli, a 23-year-old woman who was taking a shower in her rented apartment in Xiaojiawan, Yuzhong District on the evening of November 20th, was found lying on the bathroom floor by a roommate. Upon inspection, it was determined that she had died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to an illegally installed water heater by the "second landlord".
Yesterday afternoon, at the entrance of the rental apartment on the 25th floor of Changcheng Jintaiyuan in Xiajiawan, Chen Xinli's mother, He Rong, held her daughter's photo and fainted several times. The photo showed a radiant 23-year-old Chen Xinli. According to the family, Chen Xinli had just graduated from university this year and hailed from Dazhou, Sichuan. She had been renting the apartment for over a month. The landlord, Mr. Wu, had rented out the apartment as a bare unit to Ms. Liao, the "second landlord", who then renovated it into six smaller rooms and sublet them to others.
It was reported that at 9:51 PM on November 20th, after chatting online with a friend, Chen Xinli went into the bathroom to take a shower. Over an hour passed and she still hadn't come out. Her roommate knocked on the door but received no response, only hearing the sound of running water inside. Suspecting something was wrong, they broke down the door and found Chen lying on the ground, with a strong smell of carbon monoxide filling the bathroom. The neighbors immediately called 120, but upon examination, the doctors found that Chen had already stopped breathing.
Police from Daping Police Station and staff from Daping Natural Gas Station arrived at the scene. After inspection, it was confirmed that the deceased had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas station staff also discovered that the gas water heater in the rental apartment was actually installed inside the bathroom. "This is a taboo when installing gas water heaters," said the head of the Technical Safety Department of Yuzhong District Natural Gas Branch Company. According to regulations, residents must have their water heaters inspected and approved by the gas company before use. During inspection, residents must also provide proof of the installer's qualifications. After verification by Yuzhong District Natural Gas Branch Company, Ms. Liao did not apply for inspection after installing the gas water heater. When the apartment's natural gas was connected in April this year, there was no gas water heater installed, and Ms. Liao currently cannot provide proof of passing the inspection.
According to Director Li of Dahuang Road Community Committee, after the incident, Ms. Liao, the "second landlord", had signed a commitment on Wednesday to pay 20,000 yuan as advance payment for the deceased's funeral expenses, but later turned off her phone and disappeared. It wasn't until yesterday afternoon that the lawyer commissioned by Ms. Liao appeared to negotiate. The deceased's family stated that they would pursue legal action against those responsible through legal procedures. Currently, the deceased's body is still at the funeral home.
Lawyer Chu Yun'e from Chongqing Zhiting Law Firm expressed that in this incident, if it is confirmed that Ms. Liao illegally installed the water heater without authorization, she will bear primary responsibility for this case.
Precautions for Installing and Using Gas Water Heaters:
1. Do not install in the bathroom.
2. Install according to regulations with an external exhaust chimney; gas water heaters without an external exhaust chimney should not be installed or used.
3. Gas water heaters must be correctly installed by professional personnel from the manufacturer or merchant; users should not install privately.
4. Pay attention to opening windows for ventilation when using gas water heaters.
5. Family members should strengthen supervision when children, minors, and the elderly use gas water heaters, and pay attention to safety precautions.
6. When purchasing, it is best to choose a forced exhaust type gas water heater. Check if the product has a "3C" mark, if it has a certificate of conformity, and pay attention to obtaining an inspection report issued by a legal inspection agency, while keeping the purchase invoice. In addition, consumers should inquire about safe usage knowledge of gas water heaters from manufacturers or merchants.
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