Poisonous tempeh kills five villagers

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