A serious gas leak at a hotel in Playa de Palma left two German tourists, both women in their twenties or thirties, hospitalised with severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Emergency services were called late Saturday night after the women’s friends, unable to reach them by phone, asked hotel staff to open their room. The guests were found unconscious. Medical teams from Ib-salut and local firefighters responded quickly, performing initial resuscitation before transferring both women to Son Llàtzer Hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
The incident occurred at the Ahoi Urban Beach hotel on Carretera Militar, a busy area known for its long stretch of tourist accommodation along Mallorca’s southern coast. Police sources believe the leak came from a faulty boiler, with gas entering the room through the ventilation system. A hotel employee, aged 39, also suffered mild symptoms of poisoning but did not require extended hospital care.
Earlier in the day, the women’s friends had visited their room and noticed an unusual smell but did not raise the alarm. Concern grew when the women failed to answer calls throughout the day, prompting the late-night intervention. The National Police in Palma have launched an investigation to determine the exact source and cause of the leak, focusing on the building’s gas installations and maintenance records.
Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in Spanish hotels are rare but can have serious consequences, especially in older buildings with outdated ventilation or heating systems. The Playa de Palma area, a major tourist destination, has seen increased attention to safety standards in recent years. Hazardous fumes have caused hospitalisations elsewhere: several residents required treatment for smoke inhalation during a fire in Tres Cantos, Madrid, as detailed in this report on a Madrid apartment fire.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can cause loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, death. Spanish regulations require regular inspection of gas appliances in hotels, but enforcement and compliance can vary. Authorities are awaiting further medical updates on the two women and have not ruled out additional safety checks at the hotel and neighbouring properties.
