P

oisoning caused by arak (rice wine) mixed with toxic methanol claimed its first foreign victim Saturday as the death toll from the deadly batch of liquor rose to 21.

The first foreign victim was identified as 59-year-old Briton Alan Colen, a resident of Canggu, North Kuta. His Indonesian wife found him unconscious Saturday afternoon after he consumed arak he bought from a warung (stall) near their house. She immediately took Colen to Sanglah General Hospital in South Denpasar.

However, by the time they arrived at the hospital, Colen had suffered a seizure and his vision was impaired. He was later pronounced dead by the attending physician.

Local police moved fast to deal with the first foreign fatalities of the alcohol poisoning. A team of police forensic specialists visited the hospital and participated in the post-mortem examination of Colen's body.

"It was an examination on the external surface of the victim's body and the team found indications the victim suffered from alcohol poisoning," Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar, who accompanied the team, said.

Sugianyar said a full autopsy on Colen's body will be conducted Sunday to pinpoint the cause of death.

Fernandus Hermawan, who also hailed from Canggu, also died Saturday from consuming toxic arak.

His wife Ita cried hysterically upon learning of Fernandus' death. His body was placed inside a wooden coffin as dozens of relatives and friends gathered to mourn the loss.

"Two days ago he complained of suffering an excruciating pain in his eyes, then he threw up blood, but he refused to be hospitalized," Ita said.

Ita also said the liquor his husband consumed before he fell sick was different to the one he usually drank.

"He bought the liquor from a different shop but I don't want to disclose the identity of that shop," she said.

On Sunday, four more victims were brought to Sanglah. One victim, identified as I Wayan Sumardika, a 28 year old resident of Blanjong hamlet in Sanur, died during treatment. The three others - Aidit, Eko Nurasuta and I Gede Suwanda -remain in critical condition.