10 people die, 185 sick from mice moonshine

Jonker Rumteh, The Jakarta Post, Manado

At least 10 residents of Bolaang Mongondouw regency in North Sulawesi died and another 185 remained critical on Wednesday after drinking a locally made alcoholic beverage called tikus (mice).

The drink is made from the fermentation of palm sugar and mixed with other substances. The beverage is popular among low- income people in North Sulawesi because it is cheap and sold in most shops across the region.

The victims all suffered from similar symptoms, mainly high fever coupled with eyesight and breathing problems. Four people died on Monday after they drank the beverage on Sunday night, while the others have died over the last two days. The victims were from several districts in the regency.

Those who were still alive had been taken to hospitals, said Dilapanga, a government official from Sangtombolang district in Bolaang Mongondouw regency .

The beverages were distributed on Sunday to shops around Bolaang Mongondouw from a factory in South Minahasa regency and shortly thereafter were consumed by local residents, quickly leading to illness. The residents were warned on Wednesday not drink the tikus and all the bottles were taken out of the shops and destroyed, said Dilapanga.

A senior health official confirmed the tragedy and alleged that an additional substance might have been added to the drink, which was likely the cause.

Chief of North Sulawesi police detectives Sr. Comr. Johnny Hotma Hutahuruk said the police had questioned six witnesses over the case, but would not reveal anything beyond that.