Four Store Staff in North Sumatra Poisoned by Generator Fumes After Power Cut, Two Dead

A total power cut in North Sumatra led to four female store employees at a phone accessories shop in Lingkungan III, Indrapura Village, Air Putih District, Batu Bara Regency, suffering poisoning, with two fatalities and two others rushed to hospital. The deceased were identified as RR (24) and AA (22), while the other two victims, M (22) and DCA (17), remain in intensive care. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, 23 May 2026. Air Putih Police Chief AKP Rahmad R Hutagaol explained the sequence of events: a staff member, Dinda Selvira Manalu, arrived for work at 8:00 AM on the day of the incident but found the store closed. After attempting to contact someone inside via phone with no response, she informed the store owner, Edo Setiawan. The owner then sought assistance from neighbours to forcibly open the shop. Upon entry, all four victims were found unconscious. The incident was reported to the Air Putih police station, where officers conducted evacuation of the victims to the nearest hospital alongside local residents. Police also processed the crime scene, secured evidence, and interviewed witnesses. Two victims were confirmed dead at the scene, while the other two were transported to Bidadari Indrapura Hospital for medical treatment, according to Rahmad. He stated that the generator, which was being used to power lights inside the closed store, had been operating without adequate ventilation. “The store was shut and the generator was inside. There was no airflow, so it is suspected the victims in the room were poisoned by fumes,” he added.