KABUL, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least four students died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Nili, the provincial capital of central Afghanistan's Daykundi province, on Sunday, the provincial police office said in a statement.

The students, who were using unrefined coal in a traditional stove to heat their room, succumbed after toxic gas accumulated indoors and suffocated them, according to the statement.

The victims, aged 16, 17, 18 and 19, had traveled from a remote district of the province to Nili to prepare for the national university entrance examination and were engaged in their studies at the time of the incident.

Earlier, at least four miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a stone mine in northern Badakhshan province two weeks ago.

In Afghanistan, harsh winters and the absence of central heating systems force many households to rely on traditional stoves burning wood or coal. Such tragedies remain common due to poor ventilation and the use of low-quality fuel. ■