Local sources in northern Afghanistan’s Balkh province confirmed the poisoning at a transportation company’s party, reporting that 27 people were poisoned and 5 died, all of whom were company employees.
According to sources in Balkh province, the guests’ drinks at the party were infected with the poison, and those who were exposed and poisoned suffered severe diarrhea. Five drivers, all of whom were natives of Faryab, a northern province of Afghanistan, died during the party that took place last night, September 17, among the employees of the transportation company, which included drivers and other staff members.
At this time, no additional information or specific details, nor the means by which the drinks were poisoned, have been made public. The Taliban local officials have confirmed the veracity of the food poisoning case, however, they have not provided any further information.
Earlier in June, twenty-five people were poisoned during a wedding in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan after eating contaminated food. The food poisoning victims included 10 children and 15 women.—Khaama News Agency
