PHNOM PENH, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Ten villagers subsequently died in northwest Cambodia's Pursat province after drinking locally-made rice wine, which was suspicious of containing high levels of methanol, a police chief said on Thursday.
The incident occurred in three villages in Krakor district's Ansar Chambak commune when the victims consumed the tainted rice wine at the funeral of one of their neighbors last week, said Colonel Em Run, police chief of Krakor district.
"Ten people including eight women and two men were confirmed dead and several others have been hospitalized after drinking the adulterated wine," he told Xinhua over telephone.
"The victims had the same symptoms such as eye irritation, chest pain, breathing difficulty, dizziness, headache and fatigue," he added.
Em Run said the toxic wine's samples have been taken for lab testing in capital Phnom Penh and the results are not yet available.
"A local couple, who are the producers of the wine, was arrested on Wednesday, as retailers in the district have been advised to stop selling rice wine temporarily."
Khoy Dy, director of Pursat provincial health department, confirmed the poisoning incident, but did not give further details.
Rice wine is popular in rural areas in Cambodia due to its cheap price.
Last month, at least 22 people died due to adulterated rice wine poisoning in two incidents in Kandal and Kampot provinces, according to the Ministry of Health. Enditem
