In Cambodia, more than 30 people have died from drinking poisonous rice wine in several incidents. The victims fell in three different places in a few weeks, authorities said.
Seven women were killed in the latest incident. Nearly 100 people were hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning. Twelve people died who drank rice wine at a funeral just over a week ago. And shortly before that, also at a funeral, twelve people were also killed.
Fifteen people have been arrested on suspicion of making or selling the wine. It carries prison terms of two to five years in Cambodia.
Methanol
Brewing your own rice wine is popular in Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Asia. The drink is often distilled in small quantities in the countryside and often drunk at weddings, funerals and festivals. If the alcohol is not properly distilled, methanol is released. This is difficult to notice because the fabric is odorless and tasteless.
Methanol is very toxic. It is a raw material in the chemical industry. Smaller amounts of methanol can make you blind, an amount of 25 grams is considered fatal.
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