Dozens Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning At Church

CLEVELAND (MSNBC) -- 1:45 p.m. EDT April 14, 2002 - One minute, a group of Cleveland churchgoers felt fine; the next, dozens of people had to be rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pain and dizziness.

NewsChannel5's Tony Gaskins reported that fire officials now know what caused the sickness Friday night at Iglesia Christiana Pentecostal Church on Cleveland's west side.

A blocked hot water heater stack caused carbon monoxide to back up into the church. About two hours into the ceremony, dozens of parishioners began feeling ill, and some even fainted.