Gas Killed Three Crew Members Aboard the Monarch of the Seas

Three crew members on Royal Caribbean International´s Monarch of the Seas died the morning of September 2 after being exposed to a gaseous substance while replacing a section of pipe connected to the Monarch´s sewage system, Caribbean News Digital learned last week.

The incident occurred at 9:15 a.m. as passengers were disembarking the Monarch in Los Angeles, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department said. No passengers were affected by the gas, but nineteen additional crew were taken to local hospitals, Royal Caribbean said.

The embarkation of passengers on the Monarch´s next cruise was delayed. Royal Caribbean said the U.S. Coast Guard and other local authorities were notified and rescue officials were at the scene to assist in the ship´s ventilation.

Early reports of the gas being identified as methane could not be confirmed, the Fire Department spokeswoman said.