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preliminary investigation revealed that carbon monoxide poisoning from exhaust fumes emitted by an electricity generator was likely the main cause of the deaths of five Sapta Mitra Clinic staff members at Ruko Gading Mas No. 8F-8G, East Bekasi, on Tuesday morning. In addition to the fatalities, four victims were left unconscious.

The fatalities include a doctor (Friska Novaida), an accountant (Ani Dwi Prawiri), a pharmacist (Desi Purnomo), a nurse (Slamet Afriana) and a customer service staffer (M. Zamroni).

The victims who were left unconscious were health analysts Siti Nurjanah and Ifa Riana Dewi, a courier (Hendra Rukmanto), and a woman identified as Siti Nurjanah, according to antaranews.com.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said there was a power cut at 1 a.m. so they were forced to use an emergency generator, which was placed in the reception area,

The exhaust fumes from the generator was spread throughout the building through the air conditioning system and poisoned everyone inside, he said.

Bekasi Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Siswo explained that the victims were found at 7:15 a.m. when a staff member named Toto Sumaryanto arrived at the clinic. He was surprised that the clinic'€™s front door was tied up with a plastic rope. He knocked on the door to try to get someone to open it, Siswo said.

When no one came, he then cut the rope to enter the clinic and saw that the generator was running.

As he entered the clinic, he smelled carbon dioxide and hastily went up to the second floor, where he found the nine victims. Toto then frantically looked for help, Siswo said.

According to one of the victims who has now regained consciousness, the generator was placed in the reception area because they were afraid that the generator would be stolen, Siswo added.

Rikwanto said that the unconscious victims were brought to Mitra Keluarga Hospital, East Bekasi, while the fatalities were transported to the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Central Jakarta, for autopsy.

'€œI have never imagined that my daughter would die like this,'€ Pangihutan Gultom, the doctor'€™s father, as quoted by antaranews.com.

He said he would demand that the clinic'€™s management take responsibility. The management did not notify any of the victims'€™ families about the incident, he added.

The Sapta Mitra clinic in East Bekasi is one of many clinics owned by the Sapta Mitra Group, which was established on Jan. 10, 2005 and runs several businesses in the healthcare industry.

East Bekasi Police Chief Suyud said to tempo.co that according to the preliminary investigation, there was no ventilation in the clinic and that a further investigation needed to be carried out. (ask)