Kuwait spurious liquor death toll rises to 23

Dubai: At least 23 people have died and 160 others have been treated for alcohol poisoning in Kuwait since Saturday, after consuming methanol-contaminated alcoholic beverages, the Ministry of Health confirmed.

The victims, all of Asian nationalities, fell ill in a wave of cases that has prompted an intensive, countrywide response involving hospitals, the Kuwait Poison Control Centre, security agencies, and other authorities.

The ministry said symptoms ranged from mild to severe, with 31 patients placed on ventilators and 51 requiring emergency kidney dialysis. Twenty-one individuals have suffered permanent blindness or impaired vision.

Several patients remain in intensive care, and doctors continue to monitor cases around the clock. Authorities urged the public to immediately report any suspected poisoning through hospitals or approved hotlines.

In a statement, the ministry emphasised that it was coordinating closely with all relevant agencies to ensure medical teams had the resources to manage the crisis. The ministry did not say how the contaminated alcohol entered the market but confirmed investigations are underway.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait, whose nationals were among the most severely affected, said about 40 Indian citizens have been hospitalised in recent days. In a press release, the embassy described the events as “unfortunate” and confirmed that some of the patients have died, some remain in critical condition, and others are recovering.

Upon learning of the incident, the Indian ambassador and other senior officials visited government hospitals to check on patients, coordinating with the Ministry of Health to ensure they receive proper treatment. The embassy has established a hotline (65501587) for families seeking information and pledged “all possible and necessary assistance” to the victims.

The embassy said it is still verifying the full details of the incident and is in continuous contact with authorities.