Three people died after eating sea turtles, and dozens were hospitalized.

According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), dozens of people in the province of Maguindanao del Norte have sought hospital treatment for complaints such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Authorities reported that three people who ate boiled sea turtle meat died from poisoning, and 35 others were hospitalized for the same reason.

AUTHORITIES URGE NOT TO CONSUME SEAFOOD WITHOUT PROPER CLEANING

Officials stated that 34 of the hospitalized individuals have been discharged and urged that seafood should not be consumed without proper cleaning. In the Philippines, while hunting and consuming sea turtles is prohibited under environmental protection laws, some communities continue to hunt them for their meat and eggs.