Turkish and Russian media have reported the deaths of three women following the consumption of poisoned alcoholic drinks. The poisoning took place on board a yacht in Bodrum in Turkey. An investigation is now underway and police have taken samples of the alcohol for analysis. Prosecutors in Russia have also opened an investigation into the matter.

Another woman is reportedly in a coma and 20 other Russians were affected. The incident took place as a group of managers from the travel industry met up on the boat as part of a fact-finding visit. According to one of the guests, Anatasia Lavrenko, the night cruise cost $50 per head which included a variety of cocktails.

She said that some of the cocktails had tasted particularly strong, but put it down to the exuberance of the bar tender at the time. According to the Russian media, whisky based cocktails had been mixed with methanol.

Lavrenko said that she and her friend, Marina, Shevelyova, who died after returning to Moscow, had woken the day after the party feeling sick. Both assumed it was just a bad hangover, but Ms Schevelyova began to get worse on the flight home and later died in hospital.

According to the Turkish minister for agriculture, the drinks being served were imported from North Cyprus by a company based in Ankara. He explained that the alcohol had been taken away for analysis and that necessary precautions had been taken to prevent further poisoning. The test results are due within a week.