Hanoi (VNA) – At least 11 people died and over 300 werehospitalised after consuming coconut wine or lambanog containing toxic methanolin the Philippines.

Mayor Vener Munoz of Rizal town in Laguna province said on December 23 that 10died in separate incidents in his town after attending birthday and Christmasparties on December 20. Six others are in critical condition in a hospital inManila, he added. Many of the victims are being treated in a number ofhospitals in Manila.

A resident of Candelaria town in Quezon province also died and two othersslipped into a coma after drinking coconut liquor on December 22, localofficials said.

The Philippine presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo expressed alarm overthe liquor poisoning, particularly during the time of merrymaking.

Laguna province’s Governor Ramil Hernandez has issued an order banning theselling of the liquor in the whole province in light of the poisoning incidents.

A police investigation is underway to track down the makers of the illicitliquor consumed by the victims.

The artisanal liquor, locally known as "lambanog," is created fromthe dripping nectar of the coconut flower. Using bamboo poles as bridges, localfarmers move from one tree to the next to collect the fresh coconut sap, amajor ingredient in producing the liquor.

Using a centuries-old tradition of natural fermentation and distillation, localproducers convert the sweet and frothy nectar into liquor.

In 2018 at least 21 people died in the provinces of Laguna, Rizal and Tarlac inthe northern Philippines after drinking the tainted liquor. The Food and DrugAdministration of the Philippines found the deadly liquor contains a high levelof methanol, a prohibitive additive in lambanog.

Some producers use a mixture of toxic chemicals instead of natural fermentationand distillation process to produce the distinct "lambanog" aroma./.