Date published: 21/11/2024 – 09:14

2 minutes

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the last confirmed death was a young Australian woman whose friend was fighting for her life.

Two Danish citizens and an American also died after a night of drinking possibly contaminated alcohol in Vang Vieng, authorities said.

According to British and Australian media, the group of about a dozen tourists fell ill after going out on November 12.

“Tragically, Bianca Jones has lost her life. Our first thoughts at this time are to her family and friends who have suffered a terrible and cruel loss,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament. he said.

“We take this moment to say that we are also thinking of Bianca’s friend, Holly Bowles, who is fighting for her life,” he said, without providing further details.

Holly was on “life support” at a hospital in Bangkok, her father Shaun Bowles told Australia’s Nine News on Wednesday.

Staff at the Bangkok hospital where Bowles was reportedly treated said they could not confirm whether Bowles was being treated there.

Denmark’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that two Danish citizens had died in Laos, without providing further information.

‘An unimaginable time’

The US State Department also confirmed the “death of a US citizen in Wang Vieng, Laos” and said they were “closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance.”

No detailed information was given about the date and cause of death.

New Zealand’s embassy in Bangkok said it had been contacted by one of its citizens who was “unwell and may have been a victim of methanol poisoning in Laos.”

The young Australian’s family told Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper they were “reassured to know that his incredible spirit touched so many lives during his time with us.”

“The kindness shown to our family during this unimaginable time was truly humbling.”

Vang Vieng has been a Southeast Asian backpacker fixture since Laos’ secret communist rulers opened the country to tourism decades ago.

The town was once notorious for bad behavior at backpackers’ jungle parties and has since been rebranded as an eco-tourism destination.

On sites providing travel advice for Laos, the UK and Australia, authorities warn their citizens to be careful against methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.

Methanol can be added to the drink to enhance its effect, but it can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

In neighboring Thailand, at least six people died and more than 20 were hospitalized after drinking methanol-laced illicit alcohol in August.

Backpacker hostel

According to reports in the Australian press, Bowles and Jones, both 19 years old from Melbourne, fell ill while staying at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng last week.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, the women were drinking at the hostel’s bar before going out in the evening.

When the hostel staff rushed the duo to the hospital on November 13, they were unable to check out.

The hostel’s Facebook and Instagram pages were disabled as of Thursday, and reservations were not being accepted through booking sites.

AFP could not reach the hostel for comment.

UK media reported that a British woman was also hospitalized in Bangkok after drinking in Vang Vieng.

AFP has contacted the British embassies in Thailand and Laos for comment.

© 2024 AFP