Lima, Peru—Four family members were found dead inside their home in the San Martin de Porres district Tuesday morning following carbon monoxide exposure. Emergency personnel responded to a call from neighbors who noted a strong smell of exhaust fumes emanating from the closed residence. Paramedics breached the front door and discovered the victims unresponsive in their respective bedrooms, with a gasoline-powered backup generator still running in the enclosed kitchen.

Investigators confirmed the district had experienced a localized power grid failure the previous evening, prompting the family to deploy the generator. The appliance had been operated without proper ventilation, allowing toxic carbon monoxide gas to accumulate rapidly throughout the single-story building. First responders noted that the home’s windows and doors were completely shut to keep out damp winter air, trapping the odorless gas inside.

The deceased include two adults and two school-aged children, all of whom succumbed to inhalation while sleeping. Forensic teams arrived at the scene shortly before noon to recover the bodies and take air quality measurements inside the structure. Initial tests showed carbon monoxide concentrations well above lethal thresholds, necessitating the evacuation of adjoining properties as a safety precaution.

"Operating these machines in any enclosed space is a direct recipe for disaster," stated civil defense coordinator Hugo Torres at the scene. He noted that localized power outages frequently lead to improper generator usage, particularly in low-income neighborhoods lacking safety alarms. Local authorities confirm there were no carbon monoxide detectors installed anywhere inside the rented property.

Neighbors reported that the local electrical substation has failed repeatedly over the last month due to outdated transformers and high regional demand. Utility company representatives expressed regret over the incident but maintained that grid maintenance is ongoing under difficult budgetary constraints. Residents in the area have gathered outside the home, demanding municipal action to address the chronic utility failures.

The municipal health department issued an immediate advisory warning residents of the dangers of using portable combustion engines indoors. Public health workers distributed informational leaflets detailing safe generator placement, emphasizing that units must remain at least twenty feet from any residential window. The local clinic reported treating two other individuals from nearby streets for mild headaches related to separate generator emissions.

The district prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the property owner to determine if the rental unit met basic habitation safety codes. Legal representatives are examining whether the lack of external ventilation options constitutes criminal negligence on the part of the landlord. The manufacturing company of the generator is also being contacted to verify if the machine’s safety shut-off mechanism functioned correctly.

Forensic specialists are currently preparing the autopsy reports, while municipal workers assist surviving extended family members with funeral arrangements. The street remains closed to vehicle traffic as investigators wrap up their physical documentation of the residence.