Six foreign tourists have died in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning, with Australian teenager Holly Bowles being the latest victim. Bowles, 19, passed away on Friday, just one day after her best friend, Bianca Jones, also 19, succumbed to similar symptoms in a Thai hospital. The two friends had been staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination in northern Laos, where they allegedly consumed tainted alcohol believed to be the source of the poisoning.
Shaun Bowles, Holly's father, confirmed her passing in a statement, saying, "It is with broken hearts, and 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 expressed condolences, stating, "All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends."
The victims, who were staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, reportedly consumed alcohol laced with methanol. The deaths include two Danish women in their 20s, a British lawyer named Simone White, and an unnamed American man. Methanol is often used as a cheaper alternative to ethanol in counterfeit alcoholic beverages and can be fatal even in small quantities.
The manager of Nana Backpacker Hostel, Duong Duc Toan, denied any wrongdoing, saying, "We don't do anything wrong, for sure. I really take care of all of the customers [who] stay with our hotel and our hostel." However, several individuals, including Toan, have been detained for questioning by Laotian authorities. Reports indicate that more than 100 guests were served free shots of local spirits on the night of November 12, raising concerns about the safety of alcohol in the area.
British healthcare worker Bethany Clarke, a friend of Simone White, also fell ill after consuming alcohol in Vang Vieng. Clarke warned other travelers to avoid local spirits, writing in a Facebook post, "Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning." She described how her "liver started to shut down" after consuming the tainted drinks.
Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from Orpington, England, was traveling with friends when she became critically ill. Her family issued a statement mourning the loss of their daughter, saying, "Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life. She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends, and colleagues." White's law firm, Squire Patton Boggs, described her as "a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her."
Backpacker Natasha Moore, who canceled her reservation at Nana Backpacker Hostel after hearing about the deaths, said, "Finding out that people pass away from just trying to enjoy themselves is just heartbreaking, and it could have been any one of us." Moore added that she now only drinks sealed beverages to ensure her safety.
The deaths have prompted international scrutiny, with the Australian government urging Laotian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. Online travel platform Hostelworld has removed Nana Backpacker Hostel from its listings and issued a warning to travelers in the region to exercise caution when consuming alcohol.
Methanol poisoning has been linked to several incidents in Southeast Asia, where counterfeit alcohol is sometimes distributed in tourist hotspots. Experts warn that the symptoms of methanol poisoning, which include nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision, may take up to 24 hours to appear, making it difficult to identify the source of contamination.
