Laos is “deeply saddened” by the deaths of tourists from suspected poisoning by adulterated alcohol

The list of victims grows. The Laotian government declared itself “deeply saddened” on Saturday, November 23, by the death of six Western tourists after a stay in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers north of the capital Vientiane, probably victims of poisoning from adulterated alcohol.

The Lao government “is deeply saddened by the death of foreign tourists” in Vang Vieng, it said in a statement, expressing its “sincere solidarity” and offering its “condolences to the families of the missing.” An investigation is underway “to determine the causes of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Vientiane said.

The victims are two Danes, one Englishwoman, one American and two Australians, their respective governments said.

“Complete and transparent” investigation

The latest death is that of Holly Bowles, a 19-year-old Australian girl, who occurred on Friday in a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, in the presence of her family, as reported by the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong.

According to various media, the victims were part of a group of a dozen tourists, all of whom fell ill on November 12 in Vang Vieng.

Canberra demanded that Laos conduct a “full and transparent” investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of its nationals.

Since communist Laos opened to tourism, Vang Vieng has been a popular city for backpackers visiting Southeast Asia.

It became a venue for wild jungle parties, before re-establishing its name as an eco-tourism destination.

The Vietnamese director of a youth hostel where the two Australian tourists were staying was arrested, the Lao tourist police told AFP. But so far no charges have been filed.

Methanol alert

The two young women had begun to feel unwell at the hostel, after having consumed alcohol in the establishment’s bar, according to the Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.

British and Australian authorities warn their citizens about the risks of methanol poisoning in their travel recommendations to Laos.

Methanol, a toxic alcohol used in industry and household products, is used in particular to make antifreeze or windshield washer fluid, varnish or photocopier fluid.

It can be added to other alcohols to increase potency or cost less. Ingestion can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

In neighboring Thailand, at least six people died and more than 20 were hospitalized in August after consuming alcohol adulterated with methanol.