Authorities are warning travelers to be cautious after six visitors, including two Australian adolescents and a British lawyer, died in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning connected to contaminated wine.
The deaths took place at Vang Vieng, a popular destination on the Southeast Asian trekking trail, within the last two weeks.
One of the people hospitalized after the event at the Nana Backpacker Hostel was Simone White, a 28-year-old London resident who passed away most recently.
Her family is being supported, according to confirmation from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Two Danish nationals, ages 19 and 20, a US citizen, and 19-year-olds Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles from Australia are among the other casualties.
According to reports, a Dutch visitor is stable following treatment. Additionally, a New Zealander is admitted to the hospital with symptoms of what seems to be methanol poisoning.
Since it is colorless and flavorless, methanol, a hazardous chemical frequently found in bootleg alcohol, is almost hard to detect in cocktails. Early treatment is made more difficult by the fact that poisoning symptoms, such as nausea, stomach discomfort, and breathing difficulties, can take up to 24 hours to manifest.
The event brings to light a persistent issue in Southeast Asia: the widespread use of fake alcohol. Due to lax enforcement and low rules, local manufacturers occasionally use methanol instead of ethanol to cut costs, which can result in unintentional poisonings.
An officer from the local tourism police claimed on Friday that authorities in Vang Vieng, Laos, had arrested a number of people, including the manager and owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, in relation to the deaths of five visitors who may have been poisoned by methanol.
