Seventeen Uzbek citizens have died after drinking illegally made alcohol in Türkiye and another five are being treated in intensive care, Uzbekistan’s consulate in Istanbul said Saturday. Nearly 40 people have died of alcohol poisoning in Türkiye’s biggest city in recent days.
The consulate said on Telegram that the death toll rose on Friday after three more Uzbek nationals died. It said it was preparing documents so that the bodies can be sent back to Uzbekistan, and that consulate staff are visiting the sick Uzbeks in hospitals and staying in touch with their relatives and Turkish authorities.
“It was also discovered that some compatriots, despite being poisoned, attempted to treat themselves at home and did not seek hospital care. When approached, they explained that hospitalization might be financially burdensome. However, such decisions have subsequently led to kidney failure, deteriorating vision, and respiratory issues,” the consulate said.
Some 38 out of the 92 people who went to hospitals died, according to Anadolu, Türkiye’s state-run news agency. At least two dozen people had to be intubated, and eight others were later discharged, the agency said Saturday.
The Istanbul governor’s office said on Thursday that it had been stepping up efforts to combat the sale of illegal alcohol, which can have high levels of dangerous substances such as methanol. It said it had detained about a dozen people, including four on homicide charges; seized 29 tons of counterfeit alcohol since the beginning of the year; and closed 64 businesses that were selling it.