Kuwait’s health ministry reported that 63 people have been poisoned by methanol from contaminated alcohol over the past five days, leaving 13 dead and 21 with blindness or severe vision loss.
In a statement on X late Wednesday, the ministry said all the victims were of Asian nationalities. It added that 51 patients required urgent kidney dialysis, while 31 were placed on mechanical ventilation.
Alcohol is banned in Kuwait, but illicit production in unregulated, hidden locations is common, creating a high risk of poisoning.
The Indian Embassy, representing the country’s largest expatriate community in Kuwait, said about 40 Indian nationals had been hospitalized in recent days. It confirmed some deaths and critical cases but did not specify the cause, noting that it is seeking more details.