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At least six people have died after drinking cocktails in Vang Vieng, Laos.
The resort is a popular destination for backpackers.
Two Danish women in their 20s are among the dead.
A horrific tragedy is currently shaking the country of Laos. At least six people are said to have died in the small town of Vang Vieng, which is located north of the capital.
It is suspected that everyone ingested methanol.
Holly Bowles, 19, and Bianca Jones, 19, from Australia were poisoned and flown to hospitals in Bangkok, among other places, but their lives could not be saved.
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Holly Bowles, 19, from Australia died in the resort.
1 / 2Photo: Facebook
Young Danish women dead
Two Danish women in their 20s also died – they too were poisoned by methanol.
British woman Simone White, 28, and an American man also died from the same cause, media in Australia reported.
According to British Sky News, Simone White, from Kent in the UK, is said to have fallen ill after drinking free shots at a bar in Vang Vieng.
Lived in a hostel
Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones from Australia stayed, according to ABC, at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, a popular spot for young backpackers. It has not yet been established whether the Danes lived in the same place.
On Tuesday night, the nineteen-year-olds from Australia were out at a nearby bar. On the night of Wednesday, both then fell ill and were admitted to hospital.
They had been poisoned by methanol, just like the other people. It is not yet fully established how or where they ingested the dangerous liquor.
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full screen British Simone White, 28, is said to have become ill after drinking shots. Photo: Facebook
The authorities warn
The Danish Foreign Ministry is now issuing a warning to all citizens planning to travel in Southeast Asia, where it is more common to mix methanol, or wood alcohol, with the alcohol to make it cheaper.
It reports The extra sheet.
“Methanol is very toxic, even in small amounts. You can become seriously ill or, in the worst case, lose your life. You cannot see or smell if methanol has been added. Be very careful if you want to drink cocktails and other drinks with alcohol,” writes the Danish Foreign Ministry in its warning.
It continues:
“Only buy your drinks from reputable places that are licensed to sell alcohol. Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone you are with develops symptoms of intoxication.”
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full screen The hostel where Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones are said to have lived. Photo: Anupam Nath/AP
The Swedish Foreign Ministry has also issued a warning.
“Be careful about drinking alcohol, especially cocktails and drinks that contain spirits that may have been adulterated with harmful substances,” writes the Swedish embassy, according to SVT.
The local police in Vang Vieng have launched an extensive investigation.
Australian ABC has met Duong van Huan, the owner of the hostel where the 19-year-olds from Australia lived.
Warnings on social media
He says he has never experienced anything like this in the 11 years he has run businesses in Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
He says that the police have now been on the spot checking alcohol, both at his hostel and at smaller shops nearby.
Duong van Huan was later brought in for questioning by the police, reports Newsweek.
In several Facebook groups for backpackers, they have gone out and warned about the risk of methanol poisoning in Laos and in Vang Vieng.
This is reported by Ekstrabladet.