Istanbul, where alcohol is expensive...Nineteen people died after drinking bootleg.

Local media reported that a series of deaths occurred in Istanbul, Turkiye's largest city, after drinking fake alcohol.

According to Istanbul authorities, a total of 19 people died after drinking illegal alcohol in Istanbul for three days as of the morning of the 15th local time.

Currently, 65 people are hospitalized, 26 of whom are foreigners.

Istanbul's state government said it revoked the licenses of 63 liquor stores and closed their businesses while investigating the incident.

Due to the high alcohol consumption in Turkiye, it is often the case to immerse ointment with industrial methanol rather than ethanol used in liquor manufacturing.

When a person consumes methanol, he or she suffers from symptoms of addiction such as headache and dizziness, and in severe cases, it can lead to blindness, renal failure, or even death.

Governor Davut Gül said he was "judging the people who caused the deaths" and urged citizens to pay attention to fake and illegal liquor.