Three, including two firefighters, die from suffocation in cistern incident near Tiznit

Three people, including two firefighters, tragically lost their lives on Monday due to suffocation inside a water cistern in Douar Azawiya, a village in the Aglou municipality. A fourth individual remains in treatment at Hassan I Regional Hospital.

According to reports, the first victim was attempting to empty the cistern of mud and debris when he descended into it to repair a malfunctioning pump. He soon experienced difficulty breathing and could not exit the cistern. A companion who tried to rescue him also suffered the same fate.

The incident prompted an emergency response from local firefighters, who entered the cistern in an attempt to save the two trapped men. Unfortunately, two of the rescuers also succumbed to suffocation during the rescue operation.

All four individuals were eventually pulled from the cistern and rushed to the emergency department at Tiznit Hospital, where three of them, including the two firefighters, were pronounced dead. The fourth person, the initial rescuer, is currently receiving medical care.

Preliminary information suggests that the suffocation was likely caused by the fumes from the gasoline engine used to pump out the cistern, which complicated the rescue efforts.