MAPUTO declared three days of mourning yesterday in Mozambique after 69 people died from drinking contaminated traditional beer at a funeral over the weekend.

Tete province health, women and social welfare director Paulo Bernando said that 196 other people have been admitted to hospitals there.

“People flocked to the hospital suffering from diarrhoea and muscle pain. Then bodies from various neighbourhoods were brought to the hospital and this alerted us,” Mr Bernardo told Radio Mozambique.

Pombe, a traditional Mozambican beer, is made from millet or corn flour.

The exact source of the contamination is still unknown, but authorities believe that the drink was poisoned with crocodile bile during the course of a funeral at the weekend and police are investigating the incident.

Blood and traditional beer samples were sent to the capital Maputo to be tested, said provincial health director Carle Mosse.

The authorities are collecting clothing, food and coffins for the bereaved families.