Methanol poisoning –
Tourists die after drinking adulterated alcohol in Laos
An Australian woman, two Danes and an American have died following a night out in Vang Vieng, where they drank contaminated alcohol.
Published today at 9:29 a.m.
Several tourists were hospitalized in Bangkok, Thailand, following their contamination.
AFP
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A young Australian woman died and another is in serious condition Thursday after suspected methanol poisoning during a trip to Laos, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Two Danes and an American are also believed to have died following an evening in Vang Vieng, a tourist town in Laos, where they drank alcohol believed to be contaminated with the toxic substance.
“Bianca Jones tragically lost her life. Our first thoughts are with his family and friends who are suffering a terrible and cruel loss,” the Australian Prime Minister told Parliament. “We also take this moment to say that we are thinking of Holly Bowles, Bianca’s friend, who is fighting for life,” he added.
According to British and Australian media, a group of a dozen tourists fell ill after a night out in Vang Vieng on November 12 and several were hospitalized in Bangkok, in neighboring Thailand.
Holly Bowles, a friend of Bianca Jones, is “on life support” in a Bangkok hospital, her father, Shaun Bowles, told Australian channel Nine News on Wednesday.
Contamination at the hostel bar
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet reported Tuesday that two Danish citizens had died in Laos, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry, which gave no further details. AFP contacted the Danish embassy in Bangkok, which did not immediately respond.
The US State Department also confirmed the “death of an American citizen in Vang Vieng, Laos”, specifying that it was “closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance”. He did not provide details on the date or cause of death.
Bianca Bowles and Holly Jones, both 19 and from Melbourne, started feeling unwell at the Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, where they were staying, last week, Australian media reported.
They drank at the hostel’s bar before going out for the evening, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported. They did not leave the establishment on November 13, and hostel staff rushed them to the hospital.
British media reported a British woman hospitalized in Bangkok after drinking in Vang Vieng.
Vang Vieng, in Vientiane province in northwest Laos, is a popular backpacker destination also known for its eco-tourism offerings.
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