Death toll rises to 27 after drinking poisonous alcohol

TEHRAN - At least 27 people died in Iran after drinking poisonous alcohol over the past three days, Iran's Emergency Department said on Sunday.

Mojtaba Khaledi, the spokesman for the department, told official IRNA news agency that 16 victims were from the southern Hormuzgan province, four from the central Alborz province, four from the North Khorasan province in north eastern Iran, and three others from western Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.

Khaledi said that 275 other people have gone under medical treatment due to drinking poisonous alcohol.

He urged people to immediately refer to treatment centers in case they drink alcohol and experience symptoms such as nausea, headache and double vision.

Drinking alcohol is banned in Iran and punishable by floggings and cash fines. However, some Iranians drink homemade alcoholic beverages available at low prices.