A group of young people had fallen ill during the party night. At least two women are still hospitalized.
In Laos, located in Southeast Asia, four foreign tourists have died in suspected mass poisoning in Vang Vieng, known as an adventure and party destination.
The dead include a 19-year-old Australian woman, an American man and 19- and 20-year-old Danish women, says British broadcasting company BBC. In addition, at least two women are in intensive care at the hospital.
According to media reports, a group of young people made up of citizens of different countries had spent the evening in a small town popular with backpackers on November 12. About ten tourists had fallen ill, the British and Australian media say.
Lao police are investigating the incident. Media reports and statements made by other tourists suggest that the victims may have drunk drinks containing methanol. Illegally produced low-quality alcohol may contain methanol.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese told parliament on Thursday that a young Australian woman had died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. According to Albanese, two 19-year-old Australian women had been evacuated from Laos to Thailand for hospital treatment. One of them is still in hospital in Thailand.
Thai authorities confirmed that another Australian woman had died of methanol poisoning.
– This is every parent’s worst fear and nightmare. Nobody should have to experience something like this, Albanese said, according to the news agency AP.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that one of the country’s citizens has fallen ill in Laos and may be a victim of methanol poisoning. According to the Danish Foreign Ministry, two citizens of the country have died in Laos, but the ministry did not provide any further details.
Vang Vieng is a famous party destination. On the nearby river, among other things, there is organized tubing, similar to river rafting, where intoxicated people float along the river on the inner rubbers of tractor tires.
In the early 2010s in Vang Vieng dozens died and injured numerous foreign tourists. Many drowned or hurt themselves when they dived into the shallow river and hit their heads on rocks.
Sources: AFP, AP