Bangkok moonshine death toll rises to 4, 28 in critical condition

The death toll from moonshine consumption in Bangkok has risen to four as of today, with 28 other victims remaining in serious condition. A further investigation into the sources of the moonshine led to the arrest of two Thai men yesterday, August 26.

The issue came to light after multiple residents in the Khlong Sam Wa, Min Buri, and Nong Chok districts of Bangkok were admitted to hospitals with high levels of acid in their blood. The symptoms they exhibited included dizziness, difficulty breathing, kidney failure, blurred vision, seizures, and unconsciousness.

Each victim had a history of drinking homemade alcohol, known as Ya Dong in Thai, which they bought from a stall near their homes.

An increasing number of patients with the same symptoms were admitted to nine hospitals in the area and nearby. There are currently a total of 31 victims, four of whom have died. The remaining 28 patients are still hospitalised, with 14 in intensive care units.

One of the victims has lost their vision while others are suffering from blurred vision. The medical team has not yet confirmed whether they will be able to regain their sight.

Medical workers and relevant officials later discovered high levels of methyl alcohol in the homemade alcohol that each victim consumed.

Shop owner apologises

Officers from Bang Chan Police Station tracked down the source of the alcohol and managed to arrest two brothers, 46 year old Surasak and 44 year old Surachai, for illegally producing alcohol at their factory in Soi Kanchana 25 in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok yesterday.

According to a report by ThaiRath, alcohol distillation typically produces a small amount of methanol, not exceeding 1,000 parts per million (ppm). However, the alcohol produced by the two suspects had a methanol level exceeding 100,000 ppm.

The suspects confessed that they had been producing alcohol for about a year using a formula they found online. They then distributed their alcohol to local Ya Dong stalls, where each shop mixed the alcohol with various herbs before selling it to their customers.

The suspects admitted to mixing methyl alcohol with water and bought the methyl alcohol from a factory in the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok.

The police plan to summon the owners of 18 local Ya Dong shops for questioning. One of the owners, Phatrasa Areejitsooksiri, was summoned yesterday, August 26. Phatrasa issued an apology and insisted that she did not know the alcohol from Surasak and Surachai would be dangerous to her customers.

According to Phatrasa, her family has been selling Ya Dong for more than 30 years. She previously bought the base alcohol for her Ya Dong from a trustworthy source but later switched to Surasak and Surachai’s shop because they were friends of her husband.

Surasak and Surachai urged Phatrasa to support them. Phatrasa found that the taste of their alcohol was similar to that of her previous supplier and decided to support her husband’s friends.

Phatrasa said everything was normal until some of her customers informed her that the taste of the alcohol changed, which she agreed with. She asked the two about the changes, and they promised to resolve the issue. She did not expect that her Ya Dong would cause deaths.

Surasak and Surachai have been detained at the Min Buri Provincial Court since yesterday. They were charged under Section 153 of the Excise Tax Act for producing alcohol without permission. The penalty is imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of 5,000 baht or both.

The two face additional penalties for selling illegal alcohol, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both, according to Section 155 of the Excise Tax Act.

ORIGINAL STORY: Fake alcohol in Bangkok causes widespread methanol poisoning

A cluster of severe methanol poisoning cases has emerged in Bangkok after 21 individuals fell ill after consuming counterfeit alcoholic beverages, leading to one death and several others in critical condition.

The incident began when patients started showing symptoms of severe acidosis from drinking fake alcohol containing methanol. The products were traced to two shops located in Soi Hathairat and Khlong Sam Wa. Symptoms in affected individuals started appearing on August 22.

The Khlong Sam Wa District Office has since issued a public warning yesterday, August 24, urging those who have consumed alcohol, herbal liquor, or herbal liquor tonics and are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, or vomiting, to seek medical attention immediately.

The warning specifically targeted residents in the Hathairat Road, Sam Wa Road, and Charoen Phatthana Road areas, as well as the surrounding regions within Khlong Sam Wa and Min Buri districts.

The warning came after multiple cases of methanol intoxication were reported, with one fatality and several others in a coma. Patients were receiving treatment at Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital and other nearby medical facilities.

Yesterday, August 24, Amporn Benjapolpitak, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services at the Ministry of Public Health, confirmed the reports from Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, revealing that all 21 patients were Thai men aged between 30 and 45, except for one individual who was 69 years old.

Some of these patients are undergoing acute dialysis, and if their kidneys fail to recover, they may require lifelong dialysis. There is also a risk of liver failure. Preliminary data shows that several patients are experiencing blurred vision and seeing white, diffused lights. Seven individuals have been confirmed to be blind, reported KhaoSod.

Health officials are conducting a thorough investigation to trace the source of the counterfeit alcohol and are collaborating with law enforcement to hold the responsible parties accountable. Public health campaigns are also being launched to educate people about the dangers of consuming unregulated alcohol and the signs of methanol poisoning.