American among 4 tourists dead after suspected mass poisoning in Laos

At slightest 4 tourists, including a U.S. citizen, have died aft seemingly consuming alcohol tainted with methanol portion traveling successful Laos, officials said.

The American, who was not identified, died successful Vang Vieng, a municipality fashionable with backpackers located conscionable extracurricular the Southeast Asian country’s capital, the U.S. State Department said.

“We connection our sincerest condolences to the household connected their loss,” a spokesperson said.

The suspected wide poisoning has besides near 2 Danish women and an Australian woman, identified arsenic 19-year-old Bianca Jones, dead, according to reports. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese connected Thursday confirmed she died aft being evacuated from Vang Vieng for attraction successful a Thai hospital.

According to Thai authorities, Jones died from “brain swelling owed to high levels of methanol recovered successful her system.” Her friend, who is besides 19, meanwhile, remains hospitalized, Albanese said. The duo were enjoying a “dream getaway” erstwhile they astatine immoderate constituent seemingly consumed beverages tainted with methanol, which is sometimes mixed into drinks arsenic a cheaper alternate to ethanol, but tin origin terrible poisoning oregon death.

“This is each parent’s precise worst fearfulness and a nightmare that nary 1 should person to endure,” Albanese said. “We besides instrumentality this infinitesimal to accidental that we’re reasoning of Bianca’s person Holly Bowles who is warring for her life.”

In a connection to the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper, Jones’ household asked for privateness portion they mourned their loss.

“She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted by the cognition that her unthinkable tone touched truthful galore lives during her clip with us,” the household wrote.

Denmark’s Foreign Ministry said 2 of its citizens had besides died successful “the incidental successful Laos,” but did not supply their circumstantial causes of death, citing privateness laws.

Earlier this week, the U.K issued a question advisory for Laos, informing residents to beryllium alert of what they are drinking.

“You should instrumentality attraction if offered, peculiarly for free, oregon erstwhile buying spirit-based drinks. If labels, odor oregon sensation look incorrect past bash not drink,” it said.

Australia and New Zealand person since followed suit.

With News Wire Services