Le Minh Dinh, director of Ninh Thuan’s health department, said initial information showed the symptoms were caused by alcohol poisoning, but they still needed to get test results from samples taken from over 100 liters of liquor in various shops in the hamlet.

As of 8 p.m. on Monday, the patients had started recovering.

Also at Ma Trai, three people died Saturday and another was in critical condition after drinking the liquor.

Before and after the Saturday’s incident another two people were suspected of having died by alcohol poisoning, said Nguyen Nam, deputy chairman of People’s Committee in Phuoc Chien Commune, where Ma Trai Hamlet is situated.

Reported by Thien Nhan