RABAT, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Eight people have died, and 114 others have been hospitalized after drinking homemade liquor adulterated with methanol in Morocco, the official news agency MAP reported Wednesday.
The incident occurred in the town of Sidi Allal El Tazi in the Kenitra province, said the report, citing the Regional Directorate of Health and Social Protection in Rabat-Sale-Kenitra.
At least 114 people in the town, which has a population of just over 3,100 people, suffered from methanol poisoning between Monday and Wednesday. The deaths were all registered at a local hospital between Tuesday and Wednesday.
All necessary resources have been mobilized to receive new cases at the region's health facilities, while close coordination is being established among local authorities to identify any cases that might have reached local health centers and hospitals, said the report.
The regional directorate urged "citizens in the province of Kenitra to report any similar cases and refer them directly to the nearest health facility in order to receive appropriate care and avoid any serious health complications."
Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that is used industrially. If consumed, it could cause blindness, coma, and death.
Because it is so cheap and mimics the properties of ethanol, methanol is often used to dilute costlier alcohols. ■