Spate of deaths in Ecuador from drinking methanol rises to 15

QUITO: The number of deaths in Ecuador from a spate of methanol (industrial alcohol) consumption has risen to 15, with 21 other people under observation, the Ministry of Public Health announced Monday.

The first nine deaths occurred on last Thursday in Quito, when health authorities received an alert about suspected intoxications. Since then, the number has continued to rise.

The police have been carrying out raids and operations to find establishments selling alcohol without a license, leading to five arrests so far, according to an Interior Ministry statement. — Bernama