Thirteen expatriate workers from various Asian countries have died, while many others remain in critical condition, after drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday.
The health ministry said that since Saturday, hospitals have treated 63 people linked to the incident. Of these, 31 were placed on mechanical ventilators and 51 needed emergency dialysis. At least 21 victims have lost their sight or suffered severe vision impairment.
Authorities are working with the Kuwait Poison Control Centre, law enforcement, and other agencies to track down the source of the toxic alcohol and identify those behind its distribution. The public has been warned against consuming unregulated alcoholic drinks.
The ministry urged anyone showing symptoms of methanol poisoning to seek urgent medical care or call designated hotlines, stressing that early intervention could save lives.
