Death Toll in Laos Reaches 6 as Another Australian Dies from Suspected Methanol Poisoning
Among the victims of suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, Laos, are five others, including another Australian teen, a Briton, an American, and two Danes.
The death toll has now risen to six with the recent passing of a second Australian teenager.
Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19-year-old Australian women, fell ill on Nov. 13 at Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng. They were found unwell in their room and were rushed to a hospital in Thailand for emergency treatment. Unfortunately, Bowles passed away in Bangkok on Friday, and Jones died the day before. Additionally, two Danes, an American, and a Briton lost their lives on Thursday.
The Bowles family expressed their sadness and condolences in a statement to Australian media saying, “We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace. We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that Canberra would assist authorities in Laos with the investigation.
“I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts,” Wong added.
Related Stories
Officials in Thailand reported that Jones succumbed to “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol in her system.”
Simone White, a 28-year-old British woman from Kent, also passed away from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos according to the British Foreign Office.
Moreover, a 56-year-old American man and two Danish women in their 20s have not been identified yet.
New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry revealed that one of its citizens fell ill in Laos and is a potential methanol poisoning victim.
Methanol is often added to drinks by irresponsible bar owners and can lead to severe poisoning, blindness, and death. It is also a common byproduct of poorly made homemade liquor.
The State Department advised travelers to only purchase alcoholic beverages from licensed stores, bars, and hotels, and to avoid homemade alcoholic drinks.
“Please be vigilant regarding the potential risk of methanol poisoning, especially when consuming spirit-based alcoholic drinks,” the alert emphasized. “Check liquor bottles for signs of tampering or counterfeiting, such as labels with poor print quality or incorrect spelling.”
(Left) Bianca Jones; (Right) Holly Bowles. Both photos are screen grab images obtained on Nov. 20, 2024. AAP Image/Supplied by 7NEWS
Laos, a landlocked nation and popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia, is one of the poorest countries in the region. Vang Vieng is particularly known for attracting partying backpackers and adventure sports enthusiasts.
Neil Farmiloe, a long-time resident and New Zealander who owns a restaurant in the area, expressed his customers’ deep concern over the tragic incident.
“I think it’s never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident,” he commented. “It’s very sad all around. I’m sure nobody intended to cause injury, but it’s happened.”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
