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Following a suspected methanol poisoning incident in Vang Vieng, Laos, Thailand, four people have died. Among them, there is one American tourist and an Australian girl named Bianca Jones, who died in a Thai hospital on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Additionally, several tourists also fell ill after drinking the poisoned alcohol.
This incident happened one week after Jones and Holly Bowles, her best friend, became unwell while traveling in Laos and staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng. According to the Guardian’s November 21 article, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the 19-year-old’s passing after her parents traveled to Thailand to be with her.
As per the same Guardian article, Jones died from “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system,” and Bowles is still in a Thai hospital, struggling for her life. However, authorities have yet to confirm the suspected poisoning’s location.
Australia’s Smartraveller website warns travelers to look out for methanol poisoning because even a single drink tainted with the substance can be lethal.
Methanol poisoning had already killed several tourists in Lios
The alleged mass poisoning incident in Vang Vieng has resulted in the death of a US citizen and the illness of a New Zealander. They are thought to have consumed tainted alcohol, which had methanol.
As per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s November 21 report, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his sympathies while addressing the Australian parliament and said:
“Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss… This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.”
Additionally, he also addressed Holly Bowles, Jones’ friend, saying:
“We also take this moment to say that we’re thinking of Bianca’s friend, Holly Bowles, who is fighting for her life.”
On the other hand, as per AP news’ report from the same day, on Wednesday, November 20, Holly Bowles’ father, Shaun Bowles, informed the reporters outside the Bangkok Hospital that his daughter was still very ill and on life support. Stating the same, he said:
“We just like to thank everyone from back home for all of the support and love that we’re receiving… But we’d also like the people to appreciate right now, we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly.”
Meanwhile, according to the US State Department, the US citizen also passed away in Vang Vieng. A representative informed NBC News on Thursday:
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.”
However, authorities have kept the victim’s identity and cause of death a secret. Additionally, two Danish nationals also died due to the same. However, they didn’t say whether their deaths were due to methanol poisoning.
Furthermore, according to the November 21 NBC story, New Zealand’s foreign ministry also stated that one of its nationals “who was unwell and may be a victim of methanol poisoning in Laos” had called its embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, which also oversees Laos.
Moreover, a representative for the British foreign office told NBC News in a statement on Thursday that Britain is offering consular support to its citizens and their families “following an incident in Laos,” without providing any other details.
According to the same NBC story, the incident followed the UK’s Wednesday, November 20 travel alert for Laos, which said:
“You should take care if offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks. If labels, smell or taste seem wrong then do not drink.”
On the other hand, as per an AP’s story from the same day, the Laos Health Ministry’s phone numbers were unreachable, and the police declined to comment on the situation.
As per the National Institutes of Health, methanol is a toxic substance present in many industrial and domestic substances. However, it is frequently purposefully added to alcoholic drinks as a less expensive substitute for ethanol to raise the drink’s alcohol level.
