Seven people died after drinking hand sanitizer at a drinking party in Russia where participants ran out of alcohol. Two more are in a coma in intensive care after they also consumed the hand wash.

The incident occurred in the village of Tomtor in Yakutia, central Russia. The hand sanitizer had been sold during the pandemic and contained 69% methanol. When alcohol ran out at the party, participants drank the hand sanitizer.

The first three victims were a 41-year-old woman and two men aged 27 and 59. Six others were flown by a medical evacuation aircraft to regional capital Yakutsk , where three more men aged 28, 32 and 69 passed away. One more death occurred Sunday.

In a statement, the federal public health watchdog said: ‘Nine cases of poisoning with sanitiser have been registered, including seven that were fatal .’ The regional state prosecutor said: ‘The poisoning took place as a result of drinking sanitizer.’ A criminal case has been opened.