Eleven die from spiked moonshine in Nicaragua

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Sep 8 (Reuters) At least 11 people in western Nicaragua have died this week from drinking moonshine liquor, while about 30 more have been hospitalized, health officials said.

Four died on Tuesday night in the Pacific coastal tourist town of Poneloya and seven more died between Wednesday and yesterday in the city of Leon, about 90 km northwest of Managua, officials said.

The liquor had been mixed with methanol, a simple wood-based alcohol that can be used as a fuel or solvent. When ingested, it can cause damage to human organs within hours.

''We ask the population to abstain from ingesting any liquor that is not correctly packaged,'' said Nicaraguan Health Minister Margarita Gurdian.

Police in Leon said that they have closed eight vendors of homemade liquor in an attempt to prevent further incidents.

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