At least seven people were confirmed dead while 60 individuals were rushed to the hospital tonight for methanol poisoning in Rizal, Laguna.
Some of the residents were brought to the Philippine General Hospital.
ABS-CBN News, citing town Mayor Vener Muñoz, reported that the incident took place in Barangay Book in Rizal, Laguna.
“Ang inyo pong lingkod kasama ang Sangguniang bayan ay naririto sa Phil General Hospital kasama ang mahigit 50 na tao na pinaghihinalaang nakainom ng lambanog na may lason. Lahat po ay under medication na.. pinapayuhan po ang iba pa na wag mag-atubiling lumapit sa ating infirmary para kyo ay malapatan ng lunas. Asahan nyo po na kami ay nakasuporta sa inyong lahat,” Muñoz said in a Facebook post.
Last year, at least 10 people died due methanol poisoning. Initial tests conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that samples of were methanol positive.
Methanol, along with other chemicals, is naturally produced when distilling lambanog, but this should already be removed during the process.
“Sa commercial distillers, meron silang capacity para ihiwalay ‘yung methanol. Kapag house fermented, house brewed, usually wala silang teknolohiya na ganun,” the FDA said.
The FDA said it takes 12 to 24 hours before a person who consumed methanol feels its effects, like nerve damage or kidney and liver failure.
