At least six people have died, and over 20 others have been hospitalized in Thailand due to methanol-laced illicit alcohol.
According to official reports, The deaths occurred primarily in the Khlong Sam Wa district, located on the northwest outskirts of Bangkok. Local officials discovered 19 illegal alcohol stands in the area.
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, six individuals have died in hospitals, and 22 are in critical condition.
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One relative of a victim recounted that after drinking the contaminated alcohol, the person experienced symptoms similar to gas reflux and later ended up in the ICU.
Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist country with strict alcohol regulations, limits liquor sales to specific hours and prohibits sales on religious holidays. Despite these regulations, critics argue that they contribute to a robust black market for inexpensive alcohol produced in unregulated backstreet distilleries, known locally as "Ya Dong."
Somwang Chaiprakraiwan, the leading local official in Khlong Sam Wa, confirmed that authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal alcohol vendors.
Both police and the Department of Excise have arrested and detained several suspects involved in the illicit trade. Methanol often added to increase alcohol potency, can cause severe health issues such as blindness, liver damage, and even death when ingested.
