Death toll rises to 28 from bootleg alcohol in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

The death toll from bootleg alcohol in Istanbul has risen to 28 after forensic examinations have revealed another five deaths caused by alcohol poisoning, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Five “suspicious” cases have been found to be caused by methyl-alcohol poisoning, bringing the initial death toll in the crisis to 28, according to examinations at a forensic medicine institution. 

Some 15 people are still under treatment in intensive care units at hospitals with nine reported to be in critical condition.

A total of 91 people have been admitted to hospitals for treatment since the bootleg alcohol crisis began Oct. 18, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

The recent bootleg alcohol crisis erupted in late October with surfacing of news that 12 people had died from drinking counterfeit rakı, a Turkish liquor made of anise, prompting police to launch operations in four Istanbul districts.

The side effects of the tainted alcohol included deliquium, severe stomachache, vomiting and sight impairment.

Police have detained more than 20 people in relation to the case, including suspected producers, suppliers, and sellers, while seizing thousands of bottles in several operations across Turkey. The suspects have been charged with homicide with possible intent.