Sea Turtle Stew Claims 3 Lives, Sickens Dozens in Philippines

Three people have died and at least 32 others were hospitalized in the Philippines after consuming a stew made from an endangered sea turtle, which is illegal to hunt or eat under local laws. The incident occurred in a seaside town in Maguindanao del Norte Province, where the indigenous Teduray community reported symptoms of food poisoning. Authorities are investigating the cause, as sea turtles can become toxic if they consume contaminated algae. Local officials are now enforcing stricter bans on hunting sea turtles to prevent future incidents.