LIMA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people, including a minor, have died in south-central Peru from food poisoning, the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) said Tuesday.
Another 52 who also consumed the food tainted with insecticide were hospitalized, 21 of them in critical condition.
The victims attended a wake Monday night in San Jose de Ushua in southern Ayacucho.
The death of a resident there "brought a large number of people to his funeral. Hours later, dozens of those who attended began to feel the symptoms of food poisoning that has so far left nine dead," according to the daily Radio Programas del Peru (RPP).
Ivan Villagomez, the town mayor, told the RPP that he was among the guests at the wake, where the family of the deceased served dinner, as is the custom.
Soup and a meat stew were served to everyone present at the wake, nearly 80 of them, including those from neighboring communities, he said.
Besides Villagomez himself, his son, 16, also fell ill, but was later in stable condition after being sent to hospital.
Two daughters of the deceased were among the dead, as were the father of the mayor and his 12-year-old nephew, RPP said.
Many were taken to nearby hospitals due to the limited capacity and resources of the town's small medical center.
Health Minister Silvia Pessah told RPP the suspected insecticide was organophosphate.
The insecticide, though not confirmed yet, is believed to have been stored and used next to the food. Investigations are still underway.
The incident came less than a month after hundreds of Peruvian schoolchildren fell ill after having breakfasts provided at several schools in Canete province, southern Lima Region.
