One of the 12 methanol poisoning students gets her blood filtered at Bạch Mai Hospital. — VNS/VNS Photo Thế Anh |
HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội investigative police has decided to prosecute a recent case of methanol poisoning that hospitalised 12 college students in the capital’s Cầu Giấy District.
The students, from Hà Nội Community College, were taken to the Poisoning Prevention Centre of Bạch Mai Hospital on Saturday after drinking alcohol of unclear origin at their rented residence on Yên Hoà Street.
Nine of the students were hospitalised, six having fallen into comas and were attached to breathing equipment and blood filtering machines. Two of the six students are reported in critical condition.
The students bought alcohol from house No 5B and 17 of Alley 259 on Yên Hoà Street, the investigation shows.
The alcohol seller was identified as Nguyễn Thị Hảo, who sells alcohol to several eateries in the city, charging VNĐ7,000-8,000 (US$0.3-0.4) per 500ml.
Hảo had been asked to assist police in Đống Đa District to help locate the origin of the alcohol.
Authorities took three samples of alcohol from the two alcohol stores, as well as 200ml of alcohol that the students consumed, for testing.
Some 70 litres of alcohol with unclear origin were confiscated by the People’s Committee of the district from eateries and restaurants in Yên Hoà Ward on the same day. — VNS