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wo people died and at least nine others were hospitalized at Sanglah Hospital due to intoxication after consuming alcohol.

The patients, residents of Dawan district in Klungkung regency, were all diagnosed to be mildly to severely intoxicated. They showed symptoms of vomiting and dizziness.

The hospital has begun receiving intoxicated patients since Sunday, when there were five patients admitted after being transferred from Klungkung Hospital.

Two of the five patients died the same day. They were I Komang Budiarta, 19, and I Ketut Sugianyar, 42.

As of Tuesday, there were nine patients being hospitalized with similar symptoms.

According to the results of blood check, the patients were intoxicated by methanol contained in the arak (alcoholic beverage made of fermented rice or molasses) they consumed Saturday, the hospital's head of Forensic Installation Ida Bagus Putu Alit said Monday.

"Based on the clinical symptoms and the patients' medical records, all have methanol poisoning."

The hospital head said patients suffering from severe intoxication could experience blindness, while those that were mildly intoxicated should be continuously observed as they could develop other symptoms within 24 to 48 hours.

"Methanol could cause different effects that emerge at different interval in each patient, depending on their metabolism."

The patients said they had consumed the beverage on different places in the district's Sampalan village, but all of the beverages were allegedly bought in the same place.

One of the patients identified as G. A. said that he had bought the liquor packed in a plastic bag and mixed it with lime juice.

G. A., a second-year high school student, was orphaned after his father Sugianyar died after consuming the beverage.

His mother died two years ago.

"I was drinking with my father. I have been used to *drinking similar beverages*," he said while lying in the hospital bed.

He said that he only felt dizziness and nausea, but did not vomit.

Head of Dawan subprecinct police, Adj. Comr. Dewa Gede Artha said that the police was still investigating the case by collecting evidence from the victims.

Bali has seen similar cases of intoxication. Twenty eight people out of 40 patients admitted to Sanglah Hospital died last year after consuming a beverage containing methanol.