Seven people in Russia's Far East republic of Yakutia have died and two are in a coma after consuming a diluted hand sanitiser widely available during the pandemic.
A statement published by Russian investigators on Saturday said a group of nine locals fell violently ill in the village of Tomtor after consuming diluted hand sanitiser that they had purchased at a local shop.
Investigators said they found an unlabelled five-litre canister at the scene. Tests of its contents revealed that it contained 69% methanol, an industrial non-drinking type of alcohol.
The first three victims died on the spot, while six others were flown by medical aircraft to the regional capital Yakutsk. Four later died in hospital.