Dozens Of People In Russia Died After Drinking Liquor Containing Methanol

JAKARTA - The Russian Investigative Committee on Saturday said 18 people in the city of Yekaterinburg had died from alcohol poisoning.

Investigators found that the victims had drunk liquor containing methanol, a toxic alcohol commonly used in industry.

"As a result, 18 people died after drinking the liquid," the committee said in a statement quoted by Antara.

The incident follows the opening of an investigation last week into suspected mass poisoning linked to illegal alcohol in southwestern Russia. A total of 24 people died in the incident.

An investigation in the city of Yekaterinburg found the victims purchased alcohol between October 7-14 from a group of people, two of whom have been taken into custody, he said.

Cases of mass alcohol poisoning rocked Russia in the past. In 2016, 77 people in Siberia died from drinking spa oil mixed with spirits.