An Irish woman has died in Indonesia after reportedly drinking contaminated alcohol in a poisoning scandal that has claimed more than 20 lives.
Rachel Craig (25) and a British national, Alan Cole (59), died in separate incidents on Saturday having consumed traditional arak palm wine that was spiked with methanol.
Mr Cole is believed to have been the first foreign victim of the poisoning. His Indonesian wife found him unconscious at their home in Canggu in Bali after he drank arak bought from a local stall, the Jakarta Postreported.
He had suffered a seizure and his vision was affected by the time they reached a hospital, and he was later pronounced dead.
Ms Craig, from Drogheda, Co Louth, died along with her Dutch partner after they drank arak while holidaying on an islet off the island of Lombok.
“We have been aware of the incident since Saturday,” a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman in Britain said: “I can confirm the death of a British national in Bali.
“We have been in touch with his next of kin and are providing consular assistance.”
Officials are providing consular assistance to the family through the Irish embassy in Singapore, which is accredited to Indonesia.
The Indonesian authorities have responded to the poisonings by cracking down on home distillers of arak, a cheap and potent spirit that is popular with tourists in cocktails.
PA