HONDURAS: A fatal concoction of moonshine kills ten drinkers in a rural community of the impoverished Central American country

Record ID: 860977

  • Title: HONDURAS: A fatal concoction of moonshine kills ten drinkers in a rural community of the impoverished Central American country
  • Date: 6th July 2012
  • Summary: SIGUATEPEQUE, HONDURAS (JULY 05, 2012) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF HOSPITAL PATIENTS WAITING AT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY SIGN AT HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM VARIOUS OF PATIENTS AT HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HOSPITAL MEDIC, BAYRON CERRATO, SAYING: "We had some patients that arrived intoxicated basically by alcohol. It is assumed it is methanol which affects the body, producing a headache, vomiting, nausea, and bit by bit the patient deteriorates until they eventually die." VARIOUS OF PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOSPITAL STAFF OPENING HOSPITAL MORGUE INTERIOR OF HOSPITAL MORGUE FUNERAL CASKET WITH VICTIM INSIDE COFFIN ON BACK OF PICK-UP TRUCK VARIOUS OF BOTTLES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Honduras
  • City:
  • Country: Honduras
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA5SL54VLJAEB22Y8EPX7WLF8XX
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: At least 10 people died after consuming a strong alcoholic spirit in a rural area of central Honduras, an official at the country's health ministry told media on Thursday (July 5).
    Local farmers and alcoholics from around the city of Siguatepeque, 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa, bought the fatal "aguardiente", or "firewater" in English, from local bars.
    Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident but believe the fatal beverages were spiked with methanol, a potent form of alcohol that can damage the kidneys and liver, leading to blindness and even death.
    "We had some patients that arrived intoxicated basically by alcohol. It is assumed it is methanol which affects the body, producing a headache, vomiting, nausea, and bit by bit the patient deteriorates until they eventually die," said medic, Bayron Cerrato.
    The first registered deaths took place on Monday (July 02); authorities believe that victims had consumed the potent beverage over the weekend.
    In response to the deaths, authorities have enforced a 48-hour ban on the sale of alcohol in the region and confiscated hundreds of cases of the offending spirit.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register