18 Dead After Drinking Fake Alcohol in Russia... Economic Hardship Cited as Cause

Cause of Excessive Methanol Content

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] An incident occurred in Russia where 18 people died after consuming counterfeit alcohol.

According to major foreign media on the 17th, the Russian Federal Investigative Committee announced in a statement on the 16th (local time) that 18 people died from alcohol poisoning in Yekaterinburg.

Investigators explained that the victims died after drinking alcoholic beverages containing methanol. Methanol is a highly toxic substance primarily used for industrial purposes and is fatal to humans.

The victims were found to have purchased counterfeit alcohol from an illegal sales group between the 7th and 14th. Two members of the illegal sales group are currently in custody, and authorities are tracking down the remaining suspects.

In Russia, counterfeit alcohol has been rampant recently, especially in provincial cities, causing numerous casualties. On the 7th, in the southern Orenburg region, 36 residents died after purchasing counterfeit vodka. Last year, seven residents of a village in the Far East lost their lives after drinking hand sanitizer containing methanol.

Meanwhile, major foreign media have pointed to Western sanctions and COVID-19 as causes of the worsening economic crisis in Russia, which has led to these counterfeit alcohol incidents. The economic hardship, particularly severe for residents, has increased the production and sale of counterfeit alcohol.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.