Death toll rises to 71 from toxic bath essence in Russia

The death toll in Siberia from people drinking bath essence containing methanol rose to 71 on Thursday, the Russian health ministry said.

A total of 117 people in the city of Irkutsk have suffered the effects of methanol poisoning since the weekend, “71 of whom have died,” said health ministry spokeswoman Tatiana Lebedeva, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

The toll is up from 62 on Wednesday. Authorities said the label on the hawthorn-flavoured bath essence clearly states that the liquid contains methanol, a toxic substance used in antifreeze.

Impoverished drinkers in Russia often turn to cheap vodka substitutes such as perfumes and cleansers because they cost far less than legitimate alcoholic drinks. Such liquids usually contain drinkable ethanol, not methanol which is deadly even in small doses. Investigators have detained 12 people suspected of producing and selling the bath essence.