Four die from drinking homemade vodka in north Estonia

  • 2006-10-24
  • By TBT staff
TALLINN - Four people have died and one is critically ill after drinking illegal alcohol with a high methanol content, authorities in north Estonia said.
"Four people have been found dead at Loksa this week and the emergency
services say the deaths could have been caused by methanol poisoning," a spokesperson from the Social Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
"We urge citizens not to consume illegal alcohol and substances that are
not meant for drinking."
A fifth man was taken to hospital for treatment. A sixth man, aged 44, was found dead at the end of September. Authorities said it was possible he had also fallen victim to methanol poisoning.
The deaths have sparked fears of a widespread alcohol poisoning epidemic. Five years ago, almost 70 people died across southern Estonia after drinking illegal homebrew with a high methanol content.
Police said it was also possible that the Loksa drinkers had consumed lighter fluid, and urged people not to drink any substance not intended for consumption.