Deaths in Libya from alcohol poison reaches 87

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libya's health minister says the death toll from drinking homemade alcohol that contained poisonous methanol has risen to 87.

Minister Nouri Doghman says 1,044 people have been harmed.

He said Sunday that 15 people were blinded, and others went into comas or suffered kidney failure. He said some people admitted themselves to the hospital too late, contributing to the increasing toll.

The deaths were first reported a week ago.

The dead range in age from 19 to 50 years old.

The sale and consumption of alcohol is banned in the conservative North African country. Like illegal drugs elsewhere, some Libyans turn to black market dealers to buy alcohol, which is often cooked in homes or deserted farms.