Five die from eating endangered sea turtle

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, June 15 (UPI) -- Five people had died and 60 others were seriously ill Wednesday after eating an endangered giant sea turtle in Cambodia.

Fishermen caught a 75-pound turtle last Saturday, and divided the meat among villagers in Sihanoukville in southwestern Cambodia, the Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao reported Wednesday.

One day after eating the turtle, more than 60 people suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. Five people, including three children, had died by Wednesday, while the others were still receiving treatment in hospital.

This is the second reported incident where people have died after eating sea turtles in Cambodia. In December 2002, three people died and about 100 were seriously ill after eating a giant sea turtle.