Overview

• Kaoutar Naqqad, Imane Mallah, and Wafae El-Arar were found dead in their hotel room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort on February 22, 2025.
• Toxicology reports confirmed fatal carboxyhemoglobin levels exceeding 60%, indicating acute carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Belizean officials believe a faulty instant water heater in the hotel room was the likely source of the deadly gas.
• The families of the victims, initially critical of the investigation, expressed relief at the thoroughness of the findings but continue to await a secondary review in Massachusetts.
• The incident has raised broader concerns about safety standards in tourist accommodations and prompted discussions on travel safety in Belize.