Methanol poisoning linked to contaminated alcohol in Kuwait has left 13 people dead and at least 21 others blind, according to an official statement by the country’s health ministry. The victims are among dozens who have been admitted to hospitals since the weekend after consuming the said illicit liquor. Indian nationals make up a significant portion of those affected.
According to Reuters and AFP, close to 63 people have been hospitalised since Saturday with symptoms of poisoning. Of these, around 51 now require immediate kidney dialysis, and 31 need mechanical ventilation to support breathing. Health officials have said that the patients had consumed alcohol brewed in illegal facilities, where safety standards are minimal and production often takes place without any oversight.
The toxic effects have been severe, with fatalities and long-term damage among survivors. Methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol, can cause permanent blindness, organ failure, or even death.
Indians Among Those Affected
On August 13, the Embassy of India in Kuwait confirmed that around 40 Indian nationals had been admitted to various hospitals in the past few days. There have been some fatalities, while others are in critical condition or recovering, the embassy said in a statement on X. Officials further added that they are in contact with Kuwaiti authorities to obtain more details about the victims and their treatment.
Kuwaiti authorities have not yet revealed the nationality of the dead, though media reports suggest that some of the victims might be Malaysians and Tamilians, along with a few citizens from Nepal.
Kuwait has enforced a stringent ban on alcohol imports since 1964. In the 1980s, laws criminalising alcohol consumption were introduced, with penalties including fines and imprisonment. Yet illicit alcohol continues to be produced and consumed in the country.
The Gulf state has a large expatriate population, many of whom work in sectors such as construction, domestic service, and retail. Workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka make up a substantial portion of this workforce. Migrant communities are often among the consumers of illicit alcohol in the absence of legal alternatives.
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