Unveiling the mystery of the "sleeping village"

(Baonghean.vn) - Kalachi, a small town nestled in the northern steppe of Kazakhstan, has become one of the world's strangest places as many of its residents have suddenly fallen asleep at any time.

A child in the town of Kalachi suffers from sleeping sickness. Photo: RT.

It's worth noting that this phenomenon only appeared in 2010 and became more common since March 2013. To date, scientists have yet to explain why people in the town of Kalachi fall into a state of "sleep." It is known that more than 150 people in the town have suffered from this "sleeping sickness," and this state can last for a few hours or even up to six days.

Some scientists speculated that old uranium mines in the ghost town of Krasnogorsk, located right next to Kalachi, might be the cause of the "sleeping sickness" among the residents. However, this hypothesis was quickly rejected because only carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons can cause people to fall into a state of unconsciousness, not uranium.

According to the latest announcement from Kazakhstan's authorities, the origin of the "sleeping sickness" is gradually being revealed. After conducting a medical examination of all residents in Kalachi, doctors discovered that the cause of the illness is carbon monoxide (CO). Simultaneously, researchers also reported that the concentration of CO and hydrocarbons in the town is increasing while oxygen levels are sharply decreasing.

Sergei Lukashenko, Deputy Director of the National Center for Nuclear Safety, stated that the "sleeping sickness" affecting residents of Kalachi town is due to a combination of three factors: a lack of oxygen, high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons in the air. Lukashenko explained that if these three factors were considered separately, they wouldn't have a significant impact on humans. However, the combination of all three has caused many Kalachi residents to suffer from this "sleeping sickness," a phenomenon that many scientists are unable to explain.

Lukashenko also stated that old uranium mines contributed to the "sleeping sickness" in Kalachi. He explained that these mines typically used wood during operation, and when closed, the wood, exposed to water for extended periods, produced carbon monoxide (CO) which gradually leaked out of the mines.

However, the above explanation is still not entirely convincing, as many people wonder: How could a mine that has been inactive for so long produce so much CO2? How can these mines be managed if the amount of CO2 escaping from them is truly excessive?

While scientists continue to unravel the mystery surrounding the sleeping village, authorities have announced they are beginning to evacuate residents from the Kalachi and Krasnogorsk regions. Currently, 68 out of 223 households have been relocated, with the remainder to be moved next year.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)