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Eight people have died after consuming home-made alcohol in Iran’s Bandar Abbas city, while 51 others are being treated at a hospital.
Police have arrested eight people on suspicion of making and selling liquor at home.
Methanol is commonly used in the manufacture of antifreeze, solvents and fuels, but is sometimes added to spirits produced illegally to increase the alcohol content. Even in small doses, it can cause blindness or death.
And in recent years, thousands of Iranians have died from overdose on methanol-laced alcohol, based on the false belief that alcohol can spread coronavirus.
In April 2020, Iran’s health ministry said more than 500 people had died and more than 5,000 had been poisoned and admitted for treatment.