At least 15 die after wine poisoning in Cambodia

At least 15 die after wine poisoning in Cambodia

2010-10-19 04:19:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 15 people have died of wine poisoning after a local ceremony carried out by villagers in Cambodia, local media reported on Monday.

The Phnom Penh Post reported that villagers from Kampong Cham province’s Oraing Ov district - about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Phnom Penh - drank locally produced rice wine that some officials speculated had been contaminated with pesticides.

The first victims of the poisoning died on Friday, but officials did not receive any reports until Sunday, deputy district governor Nuon Song said.

"After preliminary analysis from our experts, we suspect that they died because of intoxication," Song said. "The authorities have worked hard to save their lives. Seriously intoxicated villagers have been sent to the provincial hospital, while those slightly affected have been gathered at the Preah Theat pagoda for treatment."

Song said that eight villagers had died in Preah Theat commune, four in Ampil Tapoak commune, and three died in Mean commune. Several others remain hospitalized.

At least 12 people - six of them women - died because the wine they drank was laced with an unknown contaminant, while two died from simple overdrinking and two because they were "too old," Song explained.

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