The government of Laos has expressed its profound sadness over the deaths of six foreign tourists in the popular backpacker destination of Vang Vieng, following a suspected methanol poisoning incident. The fatalities include two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton, and two Australians, who fell seriously ill after a night out on November 12 and were rushed to hospitals. The latest victim, Australian teenager Holly Bowles, 19, died in Bangkok on Friday, surrounded by family members.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos extended its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with the Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the tourists were staying, detained for questioning. No charges have been filed yet. The deaths are believed to have been caused by methanol-tainted alcohol, a toxic substance that can be added to liquor to increase its potency, but can lead to severe health issues such as blindness, liver damage, and death.

Despite the tragedy, tourism in Vang Vieng appears to continue, with many tourists still arriving for the high season. The incident has prompted both UK and Australian officials to issue travel warnings regarding the risks of methanol poisoning in Laos.

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