Woman is found dead

The Hana Health Massage in Susupe has been closed off with police tape by the Department of Public Safety following the death of a woman inside the establishment.(Kimberly A. Bautista)

A woman who has yet to be identified was found dead at the Hana Health Massage in Susupe yesterday, believed to be a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning from a running power generator.

The woman, classified as a Jane Doe by the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, was found lifeless at the Hana Health Massage at around 11am.

Hana Health Massage is located across the Truong’s Restaurant and the Saipan World Resort.

The Department of Public Safety has yet to confirm the incident or provide details but, according to a source who was at the scene, the woman died in the establishment yesterday morning, possibly from carbon monoxide inhalation from a power generator. The source said the woman may have been working at the establishment but is not sure.

Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Bobby Taisacan said that, as far as DFEMS is aware, the woman is a Jane Doe, which means her name, age, or ethnic background could not be verified at this time.

Taisacan said DPS contacted DFEMS at around 10:49am yesterday to transport the body from Hana Health Massage to the Commonwealth Health Center.

Be safe

Although the Torres administration did not confirm the fatality, it issued a warning for people to practice safety when using a portable generator.

In a statement yesterday, it acknowledged that many residents are using portable generators and outlined several safety tips.

It warned users to be aware that generators can cause dangerous hazards such as carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine exhaust pipe, fire, and electrocution.

No info yet

Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. spokesperson Samantha Birmingham-Babauta said that CHCC has no details to release as of 4:30pm yesterday.

Taisacan said the case is still under investigation by DPS. The identity of the woman and her cause of death is also still under investigation.

Saipan Tribune tried to obtain information from DPS at 3:50pm yesterday, but DPS refused to give a statement about the incident.

Although the reported fatality is not a direct cause of Super Typhoon Yutu, this death is the second death post-Yutu.

A 44-year-old local woman died from injuries she sustained after an abandoned building in Chalan Kanoa where she had sought shelter collapsed at the height of Super Typhoon Yutu.