Families of 3 American women who died in Belize resort from CO poisoning file suit

Posted February 4, 2026

“The women — Wafae El-Arar, 26, Kaoutar, Naqqad, 23, and Imane Mallah, 24 — died from carbon monoxide poisoning while they were staying at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort last February…

The deaths were the direct result of ‘a catastrophic failure of safety systems,’ including failure to install the water heater properly, failure to investigate previous reports of other guests who reported symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, and failure to provide functional carbon monoxide detectors in the guest suites, the women’s families allege in the lawsuit.

According to the suit, the women booked their trip to Belize in early 2025 to celebrate one of the women’s birthdays. At the time of booking, the women were unaware of the dysfunctional heaters at the resort, it says.

When the women turned the shower on after a beach day on Feb. 20, the suit alleges, it activated a hot water heater that ‘began venting high concentrations of carbon monoxide directly into the suite.'”

Families of 3 American women who died in Belize resort from carbon monoxide poisoning file suit

 

VESTA.DS Recalls VST Brand Tankless Water Heaters Due to Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Hazard and Risk of Serious Injury and Death

Posted October 16, 2025
Name of Product:

VST gas-fired tankless water heaters

Hazard:
The exhaust duct can crack, allowing gases to escape inside of the home, posing a carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard that can result in death or serious injury.
Remedy:
Repair
Recall Date:

October 16, 2025

Units:
About 36,700 (In addition, about 3,500 were sold in Canada)

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/VESTA-DS-Recalls-VST-Brand-Tankless-Water-Heaters-Due-to-Carbon-Monoxide-CO-Poisoning-Hazard-and-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-and-Death

‘We were so close to dying’: Families sue over carbon monoxide leak at Mesa hotel

Posted April 24, 2025
Arizona –
“Weakened by the gas, Tania said she managed to escape from the second floor. Her husband was still inside, but she was able to get into an elevator.
‘I couldn’t stand. I just reached up and pushed something in hopes that I could, like, get out,’ she said.
The Mesa police report said an officer found Tania, ‘…laying on the east side of the building. She was conscious but barely alert.’
Both families said they never heard a carbon monoxide alarm. ABC15 reviewed the police and fire reports and found nothing describing warnings from a carbon monoxide detector.”
‘We were so close to dying’: Families sue over Mesa hotel carbon monoxide leak