Fumes kill Pacific storm victims

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At least eight people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning on the Pacific coast of Canada and the US, where a storm has cut power lines.

Six people in the US city of Seattle and two in Vancouver, Canada, were killed by fumes from home, petrol-powered generators.

Dozens more have been treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.

In total, 16 people were killed and thousands remain without power after the region's worst storm in a decade.

Last week's storm knocked out power to about a million homes and businesses on both sides of the border.

Utility crews have been rushing to repair the damage.

Some people have turned to petrol-powered generators for heating during a cold snap.

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless, highly toxic gas produced by most petrol-burning engines.

"We're dealing with a carbon monoxide epidemic in western Washington [State]," Dr Neil Hampson of the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle told the Associated Press news agency.

Thursday night's storm brought heavy rain and winds of more than 90mph (145km/h) causing flooding and knocking down power lines.

A woman drowned in Seattle, while two people in the state were killed in traffic accidents blamed on fallen trees.

It was the third storm to hit the region in one week.