Laos Post

Saturday, Nov 08, 2025

Laos government 'profoundly saddened' by tourist deaths

Authorities investigate suspected methanol poisoning after foreign tourists fall ill
The Laos government has expressed deep sorrow following the deaths of six foreign tourists in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination. The incident, suspected to be caused by methanol poisoning, has led to the deaths of two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton, and two Australians. The victims fell ill after a night out on November 12, with several others also hospitalized. The latest fatality was 19-year-old Australian Holly Bowles, who passed away in a Bangkok hospital on Friday.

In response to the tragedy, Laos' Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement offering condolences to the families of the deceased, and announced an ongoing investigation into the incident. Australian authorities have urged Laos to conduct a full and transparent inquiry. The authorities have also detained the Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the tourists were staying, for questioning, although no charges have been filed. It is suspected that the tourists consumed alcohol tainted with methanol, a toxic substance often used in industrial products, which can cause severe health issues or death.

Despite the tragedy, Vang Vieng’s tourism industry appears to continue as normal, with many tourists still visiting the town, which has rebranded itself as an eco-tourism destination in recent years. Officials from Denmark, Australia, and the UK have warned their citizens about the risks of methanol poisoning in Laos, urging caution when consuming alcohol in the region.

---

**Six Foreign Tourists Dead After Methanol Poisoning in Laos**

A tragic methanol poisoning incident in Vang Vieng, Laos, has left six foreign tourists dead. Among the victims are nationals from Denmark, the U.S., the UK, and Australia. Authorities suspect tainted alcohol was the cause of the deaths, with the latest fatality being 19-year-old Australian Holly Bowles. Laos has expressed condolences and is investigating the incident, while Australian officials demand a full inquiry. Despite the tragedy, Vang Vieng continues to welcome tourists, with many still flocking to the region, now known for its eco-tourism.**Tragic Methanol Poisoning Claims Six Lives in Vang Vieng, Laos**

*Authorities investigate suspected methanol poisoning after foreign tourists fall ill*

The Laos government has expressed deep sorrow following the deaths of six foreign tourists in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination. The incident, suspected to be caused by methanol poisoning, has led to the deaths of two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton, and two Australians. The victims fell ill after a night out on November 12, with several others also hospitalized. The latest fatality was 19-year-old Australian Holly Bowles, who passed away in a Bangkok hospital on Friday.

In response to the tragedy, Laos' Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement offering condolences to the families of the deceased, and announced an ongoing investigation into the incident. Australian authorities have urged Laos to conduct a full and transparent inquiry. The authorities have also detained the Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the tourists were staying, for questioning, although no charges have been filed. It is suspected that the tourists consumed alcohol tainted with methanol, a toxic substance often used in industrial products, which can cause severe health issues or death.

Despite the tragedy, Vang Vieng’s tourism industry appears to continue as normal, with many tourists still visiting the town, which has rebranded itself as an eco-tourism destination in recent years. Officials from Denmark, Australia, and the UK have warned their citizens about the risks of methanol poisoning in Laos, urging caution when consuming alcohol in the region.

---
Newsletter

Related Articles

Laos Post
0:00
0:00
Close
AI Researchers Claim Human-Level General Intelligence Is Already Here
Dick Cheney, Former U.S. Vice President, Dies at 84
U.S. Secures Key Southeast Asia Agreements to Reshape Rare Earth Supply Chains
US and China Agree One-Year Trade Truce After Trump-Xi Talks
United States and South Korea Conclude Major Trade Accord Worth $350 Billion
Amazon Announces 14 000 Corporate Job Cuts as AI Investment Accelerates
Philippines’ Taal Volcano Erupts Overnight with 2.4 km Ash Plume
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
China Presses Netherlands to “properly” Resolve the Nexperia Seizure as Supply Chain Risks Grow
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
Hong Kong set to co-host China’s Fifteenth National Games in historic multi-city edition
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
China Imposes Sanctions on South Korean Shipbuilder Over U.S. Ties
Russia Positions ASEAN Partnership as Cornerstone of Multipolar Asia at Kuala Lumpur Summit
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
China Issues Policy Documents Exclusively in Domestic Office Format Amid Tech Tensions
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race
The Davos Set in Decline: Why the World Economic Forum’s Power Must Be Challenged
Australian government pays Deloitte nearly half a million dollars for a report built on fabricated quotes, fake citations, and AI-generated nonsense.
US Prosecutors Gained Legal Approval to Hack Telegram Servers
FIFA Accuses Malaysia of Forging Citizenship Documents, Suspends Seven Footballers
Wave of Complaints Against Apple Over iPhone 17 Pro’s Scratch Sensitivity
Three Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine for Discovery of Immune Self-Tolerance Mechanism
Foreign-Worker Housing Project in Kutchan Polarises Japan’s Demographic Debate
Central Asia’s Economies Poised for 6.1% Growth in 2025
India’s GST Collections Surge to ₹1.89 Lakh Crore in September
ADB Approves New Country Strategy to Boost Indonesia’s Growth
Indian Firms Take Lead in Electronics Manufacturing Push
Hong Kong Retains Third Place in Global Financial Centre Ranking
Malaysia Proposes Dual-Supply-Chain Strategy to Attract Investment
Chinese Economist Urges China-India Collaboration to Unlock Growth
Japanese Corporations Shift Toward Enhanced Shareholder Returns
ADB Signs First Sustainability-Linked Loan for Bangladesh Textile Sector
Hong Kong Retail Recovery Driven by Tourism Rebound
Japan’s Ruling Party Chooses Sanae Takaichi, Clearing Path to First Female Prime Minister
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ Launch Extends Billion-Dollar Empire
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
×