Four people have died and more than 50 others have been poisoned after consuming bootleg alcohol in Iran’s Mazandaran Province, state media reported on Monday.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Rasool Zafarmand, the medical director at the Medical Science University of Mazandaran, confirmed that 57 individuals were hospitalized in the cities of Chalus and Amol after suffering from severe alcohol poisoning.

Zafarmand reported that four individuals have lost their lives, while the remaining 53 are showing symptoms of severe fatigue, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Eighteen of the victims have undergone dialysis to remove toxins from their bodies, and five remain in critical condition in intensive care units (ICU).

In Iran, the consumption of alcohol is illegal under Islamic law, leading many to turn to illicit alcohol sources. However, this has resulted in dangerous cases of alcohol poisoning and fatalities. Bootleg alcohol is often poorly produced and contaminated with toxic substances.

The country has a history of alcohol-related tragedies. In September 2023, four individuals were sentenced to death for selling contaminated alcohol that killed 17 people and sent dozens more to the hospital. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, at least 210 Iranians died after consuming counterfeit alcohol, mistakenly believing it could cure the virus.

The incident underscores the ongoing issue of illegal alcohol consumption in Iran. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report published in June highlighted that 2.6 million people die annually due to alcohol-related causes worldwide, accounting for 4.7% of all deaths. Of these, around 2 million cases were among men.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the latest incident in Mazandaran to prevent further tragedies.