By Xinhua
Washington : Five people, including two girls, were killed in a dairy farm in Virginia after inhaling toxic gas from a manure pit.
According to NBC, the deaths occurred when Scott Showalter, 33, the farm owner, climbed into the pit to fix a blockage but was apparently overcome by methane gas.
Amous Stoltzfus, 24, a helper, then entered the pit to help Showalter out, followed by his wife Phyillis, 34, and two daughters Shayla, 11, and Christina, 9. None were able to make it out alive.
The remains of the victims were recovered from the pit Tuesday.
Methane is a colourless and odourless gas that is produced by decomposing manure along with three other gases – hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and carbon dioxide.