An Australian teenager has become the sixth foreign tourist to die in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos, as a growing list of countries warned of the potentially fatal consequences of drinking tainted alcohol in the Southeast Asian country.
A British woman, another Australian teenager, an American and two Danes have also died in recent days following a spate of suspected poisonings in the popular backpacker destination of Vang Vieng, according to authorities.
Holly Bowles, 19, had been on life support in critical condition for several days in neighboring Thailand after being evacuated from Laos following a night out, according to CNN affiliate Seven News. Her friend, Bianca Jones, also 19, died on Thursday.
“It is with broken hearts and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace,” Bowles’ family said in a statement late on Friday, Seven News reported.
“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly bought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”
The family said, “Holly was living her best life traveling through South East Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.”
Bianca Jones, left, and Holly Bowles, were backpacking in Laos when they became ill after a night out.
Britain’s Foreign Office told CNN on Thursday that a British woman had died in Laos. She was later named as lawyer Simone White, 28. Her law firm, Squire Patton Boggs, paid tribute to White on Friday, saying she had a “bright future ahead of her.”
According to Britain’s PA Media news agency, White’s parents said in a statement that they were “devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter.” They added that their “hearts go out” to the other families “affected by this terrible tragedy.”
The US State Department confirmed to CNN on Thursday that an American citizen had died in Vang Vieng. It did not give a reason for the person’s death but said the US was “closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance.” And Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously said two Danish nationals had died in Laos but gave no further details.
The cause of death for at least three of the foreign tourists is believed to be linked to tainted alcohol, the country’s state media said Friday in their first report on the mass poisonings.
On Saturday, the Laos government said investigations were underway to find out the cause of the deaths and vowed to “bring perpetrators to justice.”
The government “is profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng District … and expresses its sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” it said in a short statement, adding that it values the safety of tourists.
Laos, an opaque communist party state, had remained silent on the deaths for days in recent days even as multiple foreign governments issued warnings to be cautious of tainted alcohol and reports of deaths and poisonings mounted.
On Friday, the official Lao News Agency (KPL) confirmed two Danish nationals, both female, and one American national, died in Vang Vieng on November 13.
“The suspected cause of the death is believed to be the consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages,” KPL said. “Officials are in the process of collecting detailed information, evidence, and witness testimonies and are expected to release an official statement soon.”
The statement did not say if any other foreign nationals were sick.
On Friday, police also detained the manager and owner of a hostel where the backpackers were staying, the Associated Press reported, citing an officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office and hostel staff. No charges have been filed, AP reported.
Source: CNN
BDST: 1158 HRS, NOV 23, 2024
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