Twenty-two people have died and another 35 were hospitalised after drinking illegally-produced alcohol containing poisonous methyl alcohol in western Estonia.
The victims are believed to have bought the alcohol on Saturday in half-litre bottles from a bootleg alcohol distributor in the seaside resort town of Parnu 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital Tallinn, local police said.
People began turning up at local hospitals yesterday with victims still arriving today. Doctors fear that the death toll may rise as most of the hospitalized patients are in a coma.
Four suspects were taken into custody after raids by police, and 72 litres (16 gallons) of illegal alcohol were seized, but tests must still be conducted to determine whether the seized bottles contain methyl alcohol.
With the average gross monthly wage just $329 (€364 euros), up to half of Estonians buy bootleg liquor which accounts for 38 per cent of the market, according to a July report by the Estonian Market Research Institute.
Deaths from contaminated alcohol are relatively rare, however, with the last case reported two years ago when one person died from methyl alcohol poisoning, according to the Eesti Paevalehtdaily.
AFP