Sponsored Links:
Tripoli - The top security official in Libya's capital said on Tuesday that 79 people have died over the past four days from drinking homemade alcohol, suspected of containing poisonous methanol.
Colonel Mahmoud al-Sharif, security chief in Tripoli, said authorities are searching for two people believed to be involved in making the poisonous drinks. He said authorities are looking into whether it was the methanol or bad fermentation that caused the large number of victims.
He said at least seven people were found dead in their beds after consuming the toxic liquor. The victims began to arrive at hospitals on March 7, he said. They included 10 women, he added.
Al-Sharif raised the death toll from the one earlier reported by the health minister Nouri Doghman, who said 60 people died.
Doghman said that some of those who survived were blinded, and others went into comas or suffered kidney failure. He pointed to delayed relief efforts as contributing to the increasing toll. On Monday, 51 were reported dead.
He said the dead range in age from 19 to 50 years old, and that Algerians and Tunisians were among them.
The sale and consumption of alcohol is banned in the conservative North African country. Like illegal drugs elsewhere, some Libyans turn to black market dealers to buy alcohol, which is often cooked in homes or on deserted farms. - Sapa-AP
) and select "Flag as inappropriate". Our moderators will take action if need be.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Services
Buying a car has never been easy. Motoring.co.za contains a large database of car listings with a user friendly search.
Start searching today »
Business Directory
We like to make your life easier
Mobile
Browse IOL on your phone at m.iol.co.za.
Newsletters
Subscribe to our newsletters. News delivered to your inbox!
