Two Danish citizens and a US national have died, and two Australian tourists continue to fight for their lives in a Thai hospital, after consuming alcohol allegedly tainted with methanol in Vang Vieng, a tourist town in neighbouring Laos.
Most of the tourists who fell ill, including Danish, Australian and Swedish nationals, had been staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the town, located about a two-hour drive from Laos’ capital, Vientiane.
They reportedly went out drinking late into the night on November 12 and fell ill the next morning, before being taken to a Vang Vieng hospital for treatment.
Police told Radio Free Asia Lao that they are investigating whether the source of the illness was methanol, which was illegally added to alcohol as a cheaper alternative to ethanol.
According to Associated Press, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said Tuesday that staff were told by other guests that the two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on Nov. 13, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them.
He said that two days earlier the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel as a gesture of hospitality.
He said no other guest reported any issue, adding that the women had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.
Several other foreign tourists who fell ill are now being treated at the No. 103 Military Hospital in Vientiane.
The two Australians, both 19, are now being treated at hospitals in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok and the northeastern province of Udon Thani.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) quoted a statement from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirming that two Danish nationals had died, but it provided no further details, citing legal requirements for confidentiality.
Meanwhile, the US State Department confirmed the death of a US citizen in Vang Vieng, stating
“We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Vang Vieng, Laos. We offer our sincerest condolences to their family on their loss. We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance.”
According to the ABC, the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated its advice for those planning to travel to Laos following the methanol poisonings, advising them to "be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks, including cocktails, in the country.”
Vang Vieng is a tourist town particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. AP reported that businesses appeared to be going on as usual 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.”
It wasn’t immediately possible to verify reports that other tourists were also poisoned in the same incident.
Toan, the hostel manager, said he hoped the investigation would clear its name, but for now the hostel has stopped giving free shots to its guests.
