MELBOURNE, Australia — Two Australian tourists are being treated in Thailand for suspected severe alcohol poisoning after consuming tainted drinks in neighboring Laos, Australian media reported Tuesday.

According to The Age newspaper in the women’s hometown, Melbourne, two 19-year-old women fell ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng while on a backpacking holiday in Laos.

The Australian Embassy in Laos referred questions to the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but the department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Located about two hours north of Laos’ capital Vientiane, Vang Vieng is popular with backpackers and known for its party atmosphere.

Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the duo was staying, did not answer his phone.

But a worker there confirmed to The Age that the pair checked in on November 9 and went out with a group of teenagers on the evening of November 11. The unidentified worker said that the women returned early in the morning.

An alarm was raised when the women did not exit as planned on November 13. When found by staff, the duo said they were sick and the hostel sought medical attention for them.

These people were later transferred to Thailand and treated in hospitals in Bangkok and Udon Thani, the newspaper reported. Their parents flew to be with them.

It’s unclear what the pair were drinking, but methanol is sometimes used as a cheap alternative to ethanol because alcohol is used in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause serious poisoning or death.

It was not immediately possible to confirm reports that other tourists were poisoned in the same incident.