Rogue moonshine kills at least six and injures 37 in Bangkok

At least six people died and dozens more were injured after drinking rogue moonshine tainted with toxic chemicals in Thailand.

The customers reportedly bought the illegal liquor contaminated with methanol and isopropanol from street stalls in Bangkok before suffering dizziness, breathing difficulties, and vomiting - telltale symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said that as of August 27, four people had died from drinking the bootleg liquor while 34 more individuals aged between 22 to 69 were hospitalised.

Fifteen of the injured were on respirators, 22 required kidney dialysis, and 21 had blurred vision. Eight have already been discharged from the hospital.

Authorities traced the source of the rotgut to the house of a woman named Phatrasa in the Saphan Sung district of the Thai capital.

Phatrasa claimed she and her family had been selling herbal liquor for decades without any problems by using a recipe developed by her late father. She said that the recipe only used natural ingredients and did not include methyl alcohol.

Speaking at a police press conference on August 26, she said: 'A year ago, I hired two men, who were brothers, to make rice whiskey for me. The batches they made tasted normal, so I continued ordering from them.

'However, last week, my customers reported that the flavour of the liquor had changed. They said it tasted weaker and fizzier, and seemed to have a lower alcohol content.

'I called the brothers to ask if they had changed the ingredients, but they refused to tell me, only saying they had improved it.

'When I tasted the latest batch of liquor, I had a little diarrhoea, but it wasn't serious. Later, I found out that someone had died from drinking it and I was very shocked. I couldn't believe it could happen. I didn't understand how it could happen because I had been doing it for a long time. I felt guilty and sorry. I didn't want to kill anyone. I want to help the victims because one of the deceased was my friend.'

Police said they have also arrested the brothers, Surasak Insam, 46, and Surachai Insam, 44, who allegedly admitted to diluting the moonshine with ethyl alcohol 'to reduce its alcohol volume'.

However, they claimed to have no idea how the batch sold to Phatrasa ended up containing methyl alcohol.

Police Major General Kiatikul Sonthinen, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 3, said: ‘Phatrasa will be charged with negligently causing death and severe injury to others, and violating the Excise Act by producing and selling liquor without permission.'

Police were also investigating a factory owner in Samut Prakan province who allegedly sold a large bulk of chemicals to the Insam brothers.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged those who have consumed moonshine from any of the 18 locations announced to see a doctor immediately without worrying about being arrested.

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a simple type of alcohol used as an industrial solvent, antifreeze, and fuel. It is highly toxic if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Isopropanol or isopropyl alcohol, is a colorless, flammable chemical compound commonly used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, and solvent. It is widely used in households and medical settings for cleaning and sanitizing, but it can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.