· Family waits for answers after Bali tragedy

Sixteen people died and eight others were hospitalised in Indonesia’s East Java province after they drank home-made alcohol during New Year celebrations, police say.

The victims died over the weekend after consuming Javanese arak at several New Year’s parties in the town of Mojokerto, said Prisila, a local police officer.

“We suspect the drinks were mixed with other substances,” she said.

Police confiscated dozens of large jugs of the concoction, and were questioning the sellers.

Dozens of Indonesians die every year after consuming home-brewed drinks, often adulterated with a variety of toxic substances to increase their potency, including methyl alcohol and mosquito repellent.