Officials in Siberia's Kemerovo region reports family of eight dies from alcohol poisoning after drinking homemade moonshine

A family of eight in southwest Siberia’s Kemerovo region died after consuming homemade moonshine, local officials reported Monday.

The incident occurred in the village of Nizhnyaya Icheska, about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) east of Moscow. The victims included six adults and two children.

Preliminary reports indicate that the victims had been drinking a batch of moonshine made with fly agaric mushrooms, a poisonous fungus. The mushrooms contain a psychoactive compound that can cause hallucinations and other adverse effects.

Moonshine, also known as samogon, is a popular alcoholic beverage in Russia, but it can be dangerous if not properly made. The production and sale of moonshine is illegal in Russia, but it is still widely consumed, especially in rural areas.

According to the Council of People’s Deputies of the Kemerovo region, the victims were all members of the same family. They were identified as:

• A 60-year-old man
• A 58-year-old woman
• A 39-year-old man
• A 36-year-old woman
• An 18-year-old woman
• A 16-year-old boy
• A 15-year-old boy
• A 13-year-old girl

The victims were found dead in their home on Sunday. A preliminary investigation suggests that they had been drinking the moonshine for several days.

The incident is the latest in a series of deaths in Russia linked to moonshine consumption. In 2020, more than 7,000 people died from alcohol poisoning in Russia, according to the World Health Organization.

The Kemerovo region government has issued a warning to residents about the dangers of consuming moonshine. The government is also working to crack down on the production and sale of illegal alcohol.