Suspected Methanol Poisoning Claims Fourth Tourist in Laos

Australian teenager Bianca Jones has become the fourth tourist to die in a suspected mass poisoning incident in Laos. Her family confirmed her death on Thursday, following reports from the U.S. State Department that an American man had also died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng. The Danish authorities earlier reported the deaths of two young women from Denmark, aged 19 and 20, in the same region but withheld further details due to confidentiality concerns.

The deaths are currently under police investigation. Unverified reports and tourist testimonies suggest the victims may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a toxic substance sometimes found in illicitly produced alcohol. Methanol poisoning poses a significant risk in areas where bootleg alcohol is prevalently consumed.

Vang Vieng, a small riverside town in central Laos, is a popular destination for young Western backpackers exploring the Banana Pancake Trail — a renowned backpacking route through Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The implications of these tragic incidents have left many tourists and authorities alarmed.

Jones’s friend, Holly Bowles, remains on life support in a hospital, while a British woman and a Dutch tourist have also been hospitalized. The Netherlands’ foreign ministry reported the Dutch tourist is in stable condition, while the New Zealand foreign ministry also confirmed one of its citizens is unwell from suspected methanol poisoning.

Reacting to the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences, stating, «Our first thoughts are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss. This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.» Prime Minister Albanese also expressed hope for Ms. Bowles’s recovery, who is currently being treated at Bangkok Hospital.

The U.S. State Department confirmed its close monitoring of the situation involving the American victim and indicated that it is within the jurisdiction of local authorities to ascertain the cause of the deaths. Multiple countries have issued warnings to their citizens about the dangers of potential methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.

The Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Jones and Bowles stayed, has been closed as part of the ongoing police investigation. According to the hostel’s manager, the establishment had given free shots of Lao vodka to over 100 guests, including the two Australian women. However, no other guests reported immediate health issues. The manager emphasized a desire for the investigation to clear the hostel’s name while suspending the free shot gesture as a precaution.

In an emotional statement to the Herald Sun, Jones’s family expressed «deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers from across Australia,» pleading for privacy to grieve and begin healing.

Methanol, unlike ethanol, is toxic to humans, and bootleg liquor producers sometimes use it to cheaply increase alcohol content. This year, methanol poisoning has caused numerous fatalities worldwide, with similar incidents reported in countries from the Philippines to Peru, and has been a recurring issue affecting tourists in Indonesia.