By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-22 17:00:33 | Updated at 2024-11-24 01:55:50
1 day ago
The State Department has issued an urgent warning to Americans travelling to Laos after a citizen died from drinking tainted alcohol.
The unidentified American man died in the town of Vang Vieng, with the poisoning also killing two Danish women, a British lawyer, and two Australian teenagers.
The US State Department said that local authorities are investigating the death of the individual, with the US providing consular assistance.
In a statement, the State Department said: 'We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.'
They have also since issued a warning to travelers to 'be alert to the potential risk of methanol poisoning'.
At least seven others ended up in hospital following the incident which unfolded at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the popular resort town.
Police in the town have since detained the manager and owner of the hostel in connection with the deaths.
At least seven others remain ended up in hospital following the incident which unfolded at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the popular resort town
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpack hostel displays a bottle of vodka, in the bar of the hostel. He has since been detained in connection with the deaths
The US State Department said that local authorities are investigating the death of the individual, with the US providing consular assistance
An officer at Vang Vieng's Tourism Police office said no charges have been filed but a 'number of people' have been detained in connection with the case.
Staff at the hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.
Those poisoned are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to ethanol.
Consuming even a small amount can lead to blindness, multiple organ failure and death.
Simone White, 28, from Kent, England, has since been identified as the British woman who was killed.
White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, with her brother Zak telling Metro that his family have gone through a 'horrific' time.
A neighbor told the outlet that White was 'an absolutely lovely girl from a lovely family and we all feel desperately sad for them'.
Australian teenagers Holly Bowles, 19, and Bianca Jones, also 19, both died after consuming the allegedly laced drinks.
Announcing her death on Friday morning, Bowles' heartbroken family said: 'We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.
Simone White, seen here, from Kent, England, has since been identified as the British woman who was killed
Holly Bowles, left, and Bianca Jones, right, have been identified as the two Australian teenagers who died following the incident
'We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.'
She died the day after her friend, with the two on a backpacking holiday through Asia at the time.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament Jones died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng for treatment in a Thai hospital.
Duong Duc Toan, manager of the hostel, previously said staff were informed that the two were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on November 13, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them.
He said the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel two days earlier.
But he denied it was his vodka made the girls sick, insisting alcohol was bought from legitimate sellers and even drank from a bottle to 'prove it was safe'.
Toan said no other guest reported any issue, adding that the alleged victims had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.
The best friends were seen at Jaidee's Bar, around a kilometer from their hotel, on the day they fell ill.
White is not reported to have been to Jaidee's Bar - which boasts of being the place to be for 'drinking, talking, smoking, and smiling but no fighting'.
As it can take up to 18 hours for the full effects of methanol poisoning to unfold, this could mean the pair did not drink the contaminated alcohol there.
CCTV from inside the hostel shows one of the women being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorbike being driven by a hotel staff worker
Hostel CCTV shows one of the girls being transported to hospital, before they were sent across the border to Thailand, on the back of a moped.
Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died due to 'brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.
Vang Vieng is a tourist town particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.
Businesses appeared to be going on as usual on Tuesday evening in the surrounding neighborhood of the hostel bustling with bars and food stalls.
Jasmine Antonius, a Dutch tourist who has been in Vang Vieng for three days, said that she tried to become more careful with drinks after she heard about the case.
'I think sometimes you're not really watching how your drinks are being made,' she said.
'I feel now it's a wake up call for many people since this happened. So I hope people would take more precaution because it's really sad.'
