8 dead, 5 in grave condition, 25 more hospitalised after drinking fake Jack Daniels

Victims in the city bought fake and lethal Jack Daniels whiskey from an internet seller who claimed the impossibly low price - 250 to 300 roubles a bottle, $3.75 to $4.50 - was because the liquor had been seized by customs who sanctioned the sell-off.

The claim was false and the so-called whiskey - containing methanol - had now caused eight deaths, with five more victims in a 'grave' condition in hospital. A female victim is reported to have lost her sight. 

Hospitals began registering victims of poisoning on 21 November, and fear more poisoned victims in the coming days. Doctors say many of the victims are middle class rather than homeless or poverty-stricken, who are often the victims of severe alcohol poisoning. 

Konstantin Alontsev said of his colleague Artem: 'He bought Jack Daniels to share with his friends when they were in sauna.' They 'drank it in the evening and later all of them were hospitalised.' His friends survived but Artem 'fell into a coma and died three days later.'

Another victim, Sergey Skorinov, 40, also died after ordering the counterfeit whiskey from an online shop. His drinking partners are in hospital. 

Two men aged 25 and 29 years old were detained for the sale of 12 bottles of counterfeit alcohol. Currently, police are searching for the manufacturers, suppliers and buyers of alcohol.