Laos methanol poisoning: Australian teen the fourth tourist to die

Australian teen Bianca Jones has turn into the fourth vacationer to have died in a suspected mass poisoning in Laos.

The 19-year-old’s household confirmed her loss of life to the media on Thursday. Hours earlier, the US State Department informed the media that an American man died within the vacationer city of Vang Vieng.

Two Danish girls, aged 19 and 20, additionally died final week in Laos, Danish authorities confirmed, declining to share extra as a result of confidentiality considerations.

The deaths stay below police investigation, however information studies and testimonies on-line from different vacationers counsel they could have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a lethal substance usually present in bootleg alcohol.

Jones’s buddy Holly Bowles is in hospital on life help, whereas a British lady can be reportedly in hospital.

New Zealand’s overseas ministry informed native media on Thursday that one among its residents was additionally unwell from suspected methanol poisoning. It is unclear what number of extra individuals have fallen unwell.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the division of overseas affairs had confirmed Jones’s loss of life.

“Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss,” Albanese stated on Thursday afternoon.

“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.”

He stated he hoped Ms Bowles, who’s presently at Bangkok Hospital, would get better effectively.

The US State Department stated it was “closely monitoring” the state of affairs close to the American sufferer, including that it was as much as native authorities to find out the reason for loss of life.

Australian, New Zealand and UK authorities have every warned their residents to watch out of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.

Nana Backpacker Hostel, the place the 2 Australian girls stayed in Vang Vieng, informed the BBC that it was closed for police investigation.

The hostel’s supervisor informed the Associated Press that the 2 girls have been amongst greater than 100 company who acquired free pictures of Lao vodka from the hostel. The pair then headed out for the evening, he stated, including that no different company reported well being points.

The supervisor stated he hoped the investigation would clear the hostel’s title, however stated they’ve stopped giving free pictures for now.

In an announcement to Australian newspaper the Herald Sun, Jones’s household 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 assertion stated.

Unlike ethanol, the important thing part of alcoholic drinks, methanol is poisonous to people. Bootleg liquor producers typically add it to their drinks, nonetheless, as an inexpensive strategy to improve alcohol content material.

Earlier this 12 months, at the very least 57 people in India died after consuming methanol-laced liquor. Similar instances of mass poisoning have additionally been reported the world over, from the Philippines to Peru.

Vang Vieng is a small riverside city in central Laos, and a hub for backpackers in Southeast Asia.