The death toll of a suspect methanol poisoning incident in Laos has risen to four after the US State Department confirmed that an American tourist has died.
On Thursday morning (Aus time), the US State Department reported the death of an American man in Vang Vieng, Laos — the same town where at least 10 people fell critically ill after consuming alcohol that allegedly contained methanol, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
“We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Vang Vieng, Laos,” it said.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to their family on their loss.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance.”
Although the State Department said it was up to local authorities to identify the cause of death, Laotian authorities are investigating the incident as a poisoning the SMH reports.
Australian teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, were also affected in what has been dubbed a mass poisoning in Vang Vieng, Laos.
Both Melbourne teens — who were travelling during their gap year — fell critically ill last week after they ingested alcohol allegedly laced with methanol.
As reported by 9News, Bowles and Jones were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng where they indulged in a couple of drinks before heading to Jaidee Bar on November 11. However, their movements in the town are still unknown.
According to the hostel’s manager Duong Duc Toan, staff were told by other guests about how unwell the Aussie teens were after they failed to make their check out on November 13.
They were transported to two separate hospitals where they were both put on life support.
On Thursday afternoon, Jones’ family confirmed that their beloved daughter and sister had died following the incident.
Alongside Jones and the unnamed American tourist, two Danish women — reportedly aged 19 and 20 — have died, and more tourists, including one from New Zealand, have been hospitalised.
Following the suspected poisonings, a major investigation is now underway with authorities confiscating bottles from the hostel for testing.
As investigations continue in Vang Vieng, Toan admitted that he served the Aussie teens free shots of Laotian vodka but denied that it caused their sickness.
According to the SMH, the hostel manager claimed Bowles and Jones joined “more than 100 other guests” for free shots before leaving the backpacker accommodation. He also claimed that no other guests reported any issues.
Toan hopes the investigation will clear the hostel’s name.
At the time of writing, Bowles is still on life support in Bangkok Hospital.
Shaun Bowles, Holly’s dad, thanked everyone for their messages of support and love following the tragic news.
“We’d just like to thank everyone from back home for all the support and love that we’re receiving,” he said, per ABC News.
“But we’d also like for people to appreciate right now we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly.”
Methanol is a clear chemical liquid that’s found in products like plastic, fuels and cosmetics. It can also be illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheap alternative to ethanol.
However, drinking as little as 25-90ml of methanol can be deadly and can result in terrible side effects such as blindness, seizures, vomiting and abdominal pain.
On Wednesday, the Department Of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) updated its travel advice for Laos following the influx of methanol poisoning, warning tourists to “be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails” in the country.
Image source: Associated Press (AP)
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