MOSCOW, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Six people, including two children, were killed in a carbon monoxide poisoning incident at a private residence in Russia's Saratov region, the regional branch of the Investigative Committee reported on Monday.
Investigators have preliminarily established that on Jan. 12, the bodies of six people were found in an apartment in a residential building in the city of Balakovo, the committee said in a statement, adding that the victims included a 45-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, and their two young sons, aged 9 and 4, respectively.
The identities of the remaining individuals were being verified.
According to preliminary findings, the deaths were believed to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning stemming from gas appliance malfunctions at the property.
Investigators have initiated a criminal case, and an inspection of the scene is underway. ■