IRKUTSK (Sputnik) — A total of 41 of the 57 poisoning victims in the Russian city of Irkutsk have died after consuming a bath essence containing alcohol, a regional prosecutor said Monday.
"Hospitals in Irkutsk continue to admit victims of poisoning from alcohol-containing liquid 'Boyaryshnik' [Hawthorn]. As of 8:00 p.m. [12:00 GMT], 41 of the 57 victims have died, according to the prosecutor's office," Stanislav Zubovsky said.
The regional Investigative Committee office said earlier the death toll had reached 33 following the mass poisoning and hospitalization. Investigators say that Boyaryshnik, which contains the highly toxic chemical methanol, is labeled with a warning against internal use.
Consumer watchdog chief Anna Popova, meanwhile, called for a regional ban on the sale of all products containing alcohol until the circumstances of the tragedy are uncovered.
