Members of the Russian Investigative Committee investigate a criminal case of deaths of people from alcohol poisoning after consuming locally produced spirits, in Orenburg Region, Russia, in this still image taken from video released October 9, 2021. (Photo: Investigative Committee of Russia/Handout via REUTERS)

Investigators in the Orenburg region opened criminal cases after people began dying of alcohol poisoning this week. Police have since detained 10 people in probes into the production and sale of illegal alcohol, TASS news agency reported.  

"There are 67 known victims of surrogate alcohol in the region, 34 of whom have died," Orenburg's local government was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

Police seized 2,000 bottles of alcohol on Saturday and said they had identified methanol, which is toxic.