At least six people have died and dozens more have been injured after drinking moonshine tainted with toxic chemicals in Thailand.
Customers reportedly bought the illegal liquor laced with methanol and isopropanol from street vendors in Bangkok before experiencing dizziness, difficulty breathing and vomiting – telltale symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said that as of Aug. 27, four people had died from drinking illegal liquor, while 34 others, aged between 22 and 69, were hospitalized.
Fifteen of the injured were on respirators, 22 needed kidney dialysis and 21 had blurred vision. Eight have already been discharged from the hospital.
Authorities traced the origin of the fungus to the home of a woman named Phatrasa in the Saphan Sung district of the Thai capital.
At least six people died and dozens more were injured after drinking illegal liquor in Thailand
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged anyone who has consumed illegal liquor from any of the 18 announced locations to seek medical attention immediately.
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is highly toxic if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
Phatrasa said she and her family had been selling herbal liquor for decades without any problems using a recipe developed by her late father. She said the recipe used only natural ingredients and did not include methyl alcohol.
At a police press conference on August 26, he said: “A year ago, I hired two men, who were brothers, to make rice whiskey for me. The batches they made tasted average, so I continued to order whiskey from them.”
‘However, last week, my customers informed me that the taste of the liquor had changed. They said it tasted smoother and more fizzy, and that it seemed to have a lower alcohol content.
‘I called the brothers to ask if they had changed the ingredients, but they refused to tell me, only saying that they had improved it.
“When I tried the last batch of liquor, I had a little diarrhea, but it was nothing serious. Later, I heard that someone had died from drinking it, and I was very shocked.
‘I couldn’t believe it could happen. I didn’t understand how it could happen because I had been doing it for so long. I felt guilty and remorseful.
“I didn’t want to kill anyone. I want to help the victims because one of the deceased was my friend.”
Police said they also arrested brothers Surasak Insam, 46, and Surachai Insam, 44, who allegedly admitted to diluting the moonshine with ethyl alcohol “to reduce its alcohol volume.”
However, they claimed they had no idea how the batch sold to Phatrasa ended up containing methyl alcohol.
Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said that as of August 27, four people had died from drinking illegal liquor.
It was also revealed that 34 people between the ages of 22 and 69 were hospitalized.
Fifteen of the injured were on respirators, 22 needed kidney dialysis and 21 had blurred vision.
Police Major General Kiatikul Sonthinen, commander of Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 3, said: ‘Phatrasa will be charged with negligently causing death and serious injury to others, and violating the Excise Act by producing and selling liquor without a permit.’
Police were also investigating the owner of a factory in Samut Prakan province who allegedly sold a large quantity of chemicals to the Insam brothers.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged anyone who has consumed illegal alcohol at any of the 18 announced locations to seek medical attention immediately without fear of arrest.
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a simple type of alcohol that is used as an industrial solvent, antifreeze, and fuel. It is highly toxic if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
Isopropanol or isopropyl alcohol is a colorless and flammable chemical compound commonly used as a disinfectant, antiseptic and solvent.
It is widely used in homes and medical settings for cleaning and disinfecting, but can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.