At least 12 people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a popular tourist ski resort.
The bodies of 11 foreigners and one Georgian national were found in a sleeping area above a restaurant in Gudauri, in the north of Georgia.
The identities of the victims has not been confirmed.
Police said “preliminary tests do not indicate any trace of violence on the bodies,” which were found on the second floor of a building housing an Indian restaurant.
An oil-powered generator had been turned on after the building lost electricity on Friday, according to officers.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the episode.
Georgia is an emerging skiing destination for snow-seeking tourists. The Mtskheta-Mtianeti region is around 7,200ft above sea level and around 75 miles north of country’s capital Tbilisi.
It’s dubbed the “silent killer” because it’s an odourless, colourless gas, that can cause serious injuries or death. Every year, more than 200 British and Irish residents are taken to hospital after some form of engagement with the gas.
Although the poisoning can be treated, 10 to 15 per cent of those affected end up with long-term complications.
Carbon monoxide is produced when things like gas, oil, coal or wood don’t burn fully. Cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide, as do car engines.