Khaberni - Despite its marketing as "your perfect companion for warmth and comfort", it transformed into the headline for a tragedy that claimed 9 lives in Jordan, including children, in two separate incidents in the Zarqa Governorate, specifically in Al-Hashimiah area, prompting official agencies to launch urgent warnings and begin field procedures to limit its circulation.
The Jordanian Public Security Directorate confirmed that the heater was the common factor in the two incidents that occurred in Al-Hashimiah area, the first led to the death of a mother and her four children of Arab nationality, and the second left four fatalities from another family. The initial investigations traced the cause of the deaths to carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from the use of "Al-Shumoosah" heaters.
The Public Security spokesperson said that the relevant authorities began to examine samples of the heaters to ensure they comply with public safety standards, and joint teams started field rounds to list them within markets and factories dedicated to their manufacture, in preparation for temporarily halting their sale until the examination results are revealed.
- But what is "Al-Shumoosah"?
As marketed in the Jordanian markets, "Al-Shumoosah" is known as an economical gas heater that operates up to 18 days on a single gas cylinder, and is sold at prices ranging from 25 to 35 Jordanian dinars. Some advertisements claim it is equipped with:
Automatic oxygen sensor
Tilt and vibration sensor
Complete safety system
Internal electronic ignition
Large chrome grid
Marketed by a local company, and displayed under slogans like:
"Al-Shumoosah… smart warmth and complete safety",
"Safe and easy automatic operation",
and "Two-year warranty and Jordanian manufacture with excellent quality".
Despite all the "safety features" displayed, the most pressing question that the public opinion poses today: who introduced "Al-Shumoosah" into every Jordanian home? And who granted it the seal of safety?
At a time when official data speaks of 9 people killed in one day due to it, citizens are demanding transparent answers about the stages of its import or manufacture, and the responsibility of regulatory bodies in ensuring its safety before it reaches the markets.
The Public Security Directorate renewed its call to citizens to not use these heaters under any circumstances, and the necessity of periodically inspecting all heating devices, ventilating homes, not leaving heaters on during sleep, emphasizing that people's lives cannot afford any negligence.
