Poisonous tempeh kills five villagers

PURBALINGGA, Central Java: At least five people died and dozens of others were hospitalized after eating fermented tempeh, doctors and residents said on Tuesday.

They said the last victim, Warsih, 26, died on Monday afternoon, while four other villagers, identified as Sanpardi, 60, Rohadi, 35, Ibu Bonek, 60, and Katijah, 60, died the previous day.

All the poisoned victims were from Sirawu village, Karangmoncol subdistrict, Purbalingga regency, Central Java.

Dozens of other villagers who also ate the tempeh are being treated at Purbalingga General Hospital.

The tempeh had been bought from Katijah, a local vendor who also died, on Sunday, by villagers for family consumption, local residents said.

Hours later, many of those who had consumed the tempeh suffered from stomachache and were rushed to a community health center and the hospital.

Mustangin, the husband of Warsih, said he lost his wife and that his two children had to be hospitalized after eating the tempeh. --Antara