In this Sunday photo provided by Cambodia National Police, patients, who fell sick from drinking water, lie on beds at a hospital in Kratie province in Northeast of Phnom Penh. A senior Cambodian health official said Monday 14 villagers whose sudden deaths were thought to have been caused by polluted water actually died from drinking rice wine containing methanol. (Cambodia National Police via AP)PHNOM PENH: Fourteen villagers whose sudden deaths were thought to have been caused by polluted water actually died from drinking rice wine containing methanol, a Cambodian health official said Monday. Rice wine is typically made in small batches in homes in the countryside and is popular at events such as weddings, funerals and village festivals. It said sales of homemade rice wine in the area have been banned for now, and people have been ordered not to draw water from the stream believed to be contaminated.

Source: Bangkok Post May 07, 2018 12:56 UTC