Three die from bad liquor in Gualaceo

The bodies of three men who apparently died from drinking adulterated liquor were discovered yesterday morning the community of Guazhalán, near Gualaceo.

Friends and family of the men said they had been drinking the night before and were sitting around a campfire the last time they were seen alive. Police did not release full names of the victims.

Police gathered several bottles they suspected of containing the poisoned liquor. They said that those reponsible for making the liquor would be subject to arrest on murder charges.

In recent years, there have been a number of cases in southern Ecuador of deaths caused by homemade liquor. In 2007, 17 people died in Azuay and Loja Provinces due to liquor poisoning. In 2011, 47 died of bad booze and 200 were hospitalized in a multi-province poisoning epidemic.

Most of the deaths are the result of wood grain alcohol being added to the brew.