Gas heater suffocates wedding night couple

A newly-wed Jordanian couple died from suffocation on Saturday after they left a gas heater turned on overnight, a security official said.

"The newlyweds died from suffocation at dawn on Saturday after they inhaled carbon dioxide emitted from the gas heater in their room," in the northern province of Zarqa, said local civil defence chief Colonel Mohammed al-Malaba.

"The 24-year-old groom and his 16-year-old bride had just celebrated their wedding yesterday (Friday)," Malaba said, quoted by Jordan's state news agency Petra.

Such tragedies are common in Jordan where many families use low-cost oil and gas heaters. In 2009, eight people were killed in 60 similar accidents.