After Storm Blackouts, Indoor Generators in Leiria Prove Deadly

The Portugal National Republican Guard (GNR) has confirmed the death of a 74-year-old man in Segodim, Leiria, after carbon-monoxide poisoning from an indoor generator, an accident that highlights the silent danger many households face when the power goes out.

Why This Matters

• Fatal risk grows during power cuts: Storm Kristin knocked out electricity across the Centro region, prompting a surge in generator use.

• Invisible killer: Carbon monoxide (CO) has no smell or colour yet can render a person unconscious in minutes.

• Rules already exist: Using a generator inside a home or garage violates safety recommendations from the Portugal Civil Protection Authority.

• Medical costs and liability: Treating severe CO poisoning can exceed €10,000, a figure not always covered by standard insurance.

A Cluster of Cases Along the Centro Coast

Leiria is not alone. Since Kristin made landfall, the Hospital de Santo André has treated 15 CO poisoning victims, while neighbouring Alcobaça saw nine people rushed to emergency care—five in critical condition. Smaller incidents were registered in Porto de Mós and Ortigosa, painting a worrying picture of families improvising with petrol generators indoors or too close to windows.

Local authorities blame two factors: prolonged blackouts and the perception that opening a window “just a crack” is enough. Health officials stress that, even in a semi-open space, CO levels can turn lethal in under 15 minutes.

Why Portable Generators Turn Deadly Indoors

A typical 3 kW generator produces the same CO output as a car engine, but without a catalytic converter. The gas builds quickly, binds to haemoglobin 240 times faster than oxygen, and deprives the brain of air. Most victims feel only a mild headache before losing consciousness, especially dangerous at night.

Winter compounds the problem. Shutting doors to retain heat traps fumes, and strong coastal winds can blow exhaust back into houses even when the device sits outside. Leiria’s dense cluster of low-rise homes, many with shared courtyards, further increases the chance that a neighbour’s generator will seep fumes next door.

The Safety Rulebook: What the Authorities Need You to Do

Portugal’s Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS) and the Civil Protection Authority condensed their advice into “three golden rules”.

Operate outdoors only: Never place a generator in the house, garage, attic, or annex—even with windows open.

Six-metre clearance: Keep the exhaust at least 6 m from any door, window, or air-intake grille.

Check wind direction: Position the unit so smoke drifts away from the building.

Failure to follow these rules can leave homeowners exposed to lawsuits under Article 483 of the Portuguese Civil Code covering liability for negligence. While no dedicated generator law exists, the Decree-Law 96/2017 classifies portable sets as “Type A self-production units”, requiring proper installation certificates for fixed setups. Police can also issue fines up to €2,500 if a generator obstructs public passages or communal areas.

What This Means for Residents

For anyone living in Portugal’s storm-prone districts, the message is blunt: buy a long extension cable before buying a generator. Leaving the machine in the garden or carpark and powering indoor appliances via heavy-duty leads is the only safe arrangement. Landlords should update house rules; tenant agreements rarely mention generators, yet owners could be held responsible for unsafe practices on their property.

Insurance holders should also verify policies. Some basic plans treat CO incidents as "avoidable accidents" and may refuse compensation for property damage or medical bills if official advice was ignored.

Home-improvement stores report a spike in demand for €25 CO detectors. Installing one near bedrooms offers life-saving redundancy, especially in older stone houses where fumes can creep through cracks.

If Symptoms Appear

Authorities urge residents to memorise these steps:

• Evacuate immediately—do not waste time opening windows.

• Call 112 or the Poison Information Centre (800 250 250) from outside the building.

• Seek medical attention even for mild headaches or dizziness; CO remains in the bloodstream for hours.

Here is the reality: generators are indispensable when the grid fails, yet their misuse is turning weather emergencies into public-health crises. Following the three golden rules—and investing in a €25 alarm—could make the critical difference between an inconvenient blackout and a tragic headline.