Seven people have died after drinking coronavirus hand sanitiser in Russia.
Two more remain in a coma in an intensive care ward, say reports.
A group of nine people drank the antiseptic hand wash when the alcohol ran out at a party on Thursday in Tomtor village in the Tattinsky district of the country’s largest region, Yakutia.
The first three victims were a 41-year-old woman and two men aged 27 and 59. Six others were flown by a medical evacuation aircraft to regional capital Yakutsk.
On Friday three more men died, aged 28, 32 and 69. One more death was reported today.
Federal public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor reported: ‘Nine cases of poisoning with sanitiser have been registered, including seven that were fatal .’
The regional state prosecutor said: ‘The poisoning took place as a result of drinking sanitiser.’
Partygoers drank the sanitiser – 69 per cent methanol – which had been sold as a hand cleanser during the pandemic.
Health officials warned locals not to drink the Russian-made antiseptic.
A criminal case has been opened.
