ISTANBUL - ``Seven people died and 32 others were hospitalized in Istanbul after drinking counterfeit raki,`` said Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler on Wednesday.
Guler told a news conference that customers of a restaurant in Gaziosmanpasa district of Istanbul were hospitalized after they drank raki on February 28th. Also seven people who drank raki in different places of Istanbul died, added Guler.
Meanwhile, Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate officials said that the number of people in hospitals increased to 35.
Officials said that the fake raki was produced in a makeshift distillery at a parking lot and distributed to several places. Police detained nine people regarding the incident.
Raki is a traditional Turkish alcoholic beverage strongly aromatized with anise-seed.