A second Australian teenager has died from suspected methanol poisoning, bringing the total number of foreign tourists who have died after consuming tainted alcohol in Laos to six.
The owner of the backpacker hostel where the two Australians were staying before they fell seriously ill has been detained by police in Laos for questioning, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.
The family of 19-year-old Holly Bowles confirmed her death at Bangkok Hospital in Thailand, more than a week after she fell ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Her friend, also 19-year-old Bianca Jones, and 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, from London, were confirmed dead on Thursday.
An unnamed American man and two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, are also among the victims of the suspected poisoning.
In a statement released Friday, Holly’s family expressed their heartbreak, adding that they took comfort from knowing she had brought joy and happiness to many. They mentioned that Holly had been “living her best life, traveling through Southeast Asia, meeting new friends, and enjoying incredible experiences” before falling ill.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement, “All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. Just yesterday, Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones.”
The two Australians were taken to a hospital in Vientiane on November 13 after failing to check out of their hostel in Vang Vieng, located about two hours from the Lao capital. Their conditions worsened, and they were later transferred to hospitals in Thailand: Bianca to Udon Thani, and Holly to Bangkok.
The Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the Australians stayed, reportedly gave free vodka shots to around 100 guests on the evening of November 12. The hostel’s manager told the Associated Press that no other guests had fallen ill. He had previously told ABC that the tainted drinks did not come from his bar and speculated that the two could have consumed the contaminated alcohol at another bar in the town.
Australian officials are urging Lao authorities to conduct a full and transparent investigation, although limited information has been released so far. The Lao state-run news agency KPL reported on Friday that authorities were gathering evidence and witness accounts following the deaths of the foreigners, which are believed to be linked to “consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages.” An official statement is expected soon.
Counterfeit alcohol and homemade spirits are a known issue in Laos. Both Australia and the UK have issued warnings to their citizens about the risks of consuming alcohol there.
The US embassy in Laos also issued a warning on Friday, advising its citizens to be cautious of methanol poisoning in alcoholic drinks and to purchase alcohol only from licensed vendors, while checking for signs of tampering or counterfeiting.
Methanol, a toxic alcohol used in industrial products such as antifreeze, paint thinner, and windshield wiper fluid, is sometimes used in cheap homemade spirits, despite being hazardous to humans.
