ISTANBUL: At least 44 people have been killed in a week of substandard alcohol consumption in Turkey.

According to a foreign news agency, the use of substandard alcohol in eight provinces of Turkey killed 44 people in one week and 30 were hospitalized.

According to Turkish state media, the first incident of substandard alcohol deaths occurred on October 9 in Izmir province, where 18 people were killed.

Turkish police arrested 58 people on charges of producing and selling illegal liquor and seized 20 tonnes of substandard liquor.

According to local media, the Turkish government’s heavy tax on alcohol has led to an increase in the production and sale of local and substandard alcohol.