A second Australian teenager has reportedly died from suspected methanol poisoning, marking the sixth foreign tourist fatality linked to tainted alcohol in Laos.
British lawyer Simone White was the fifth tourist victim to have died. The UK Foreign Office confirmed the death of the 28-year-old on Thursday, stating, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
Earlier the same day, the death of 19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones was confirmed by her family.
Just hours before, the US State Department announced the death of an American man in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Last week, Danish authorities reported the deaths of two Danish women, ages 19 and 20, in Laos, citing confidentiality reasons for not disclosing further details.
The ongoing police investigation is looking into the cause of these deaths, with some online testimonies from other tourists indicating possible methanol poisoning from contaminated drinks.
Vang Vieng, a central Laotian riverside town, is popular among young Western backpackers traveling the Banana Pancake Trail, which spans across Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
On Thursday, New Zealand’s foreign ministry reported a citizen suffering from suspected methanol poisoning, while the Dutch foreign affairs ministry confirmed a Dutch tourist was hospitalized but in stable condition, though the total number of affected individuals remains uncertain.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged the confirmed death of Jones, expressing deep sympathy for her family and friends enduring this devastating loss.
“Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss,” Albanese said on Thursday afternoon.
The US State Department is closely monitoring the developments concerning the American victim, stating that the local authorities are responsible for determining the cause of death.
Authorities from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK have issued warnings about the risks of methanol poisoning to travelers in Laos.
Following the incident, Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, where two Australian women had stayed, has closed for a police investigation, according to the BBC.
The hostel manager reported to the Associated Press that the two women were among over 100 guests who had been given free shots of Lao vodka. Afterward, the women went out for the evening, and no other guests have reported health issues since.
The manager expressed hope that the ongoing investigation would clear the name of the hostel and mentioned that they have temporarily ceased offering free shots.
In a statement to the Australian Herald Sun, the family of Jones expressed their “deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we’ve received from across Australia.”
“We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate through our grief and begin to heal,” the statement said.
Unlike ethanol, which is the main ingredient in safe alcoholic beverages, methanol is highly toxic. Bootleggers sometimes add it to alcoholic drinks as a cheap substitute to increase alcohol content.
Earlier this year, methanol-laced liquor claimed at least 57 lives in India. Similar tragic incidents have occurred globally, including in the Philippines and Peru, and have even resulted in multiple fatalities in Indonesia, although tourist deaths have been rare.
