Google reviews warning travellers about a Laos Hostel that’s involved in an investigation for mass methanol poisoning are reportedly being wiped from the platform after it was labelled as a “slander case” by a Hostel employee.
Over the last week, the backpacking hotspot Vang Vieng has become the centre of a suspected mass methanol poisoning that has left multiple people hospitalised and six tourists dead.
Five of the six people who tragically lost their lives were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, including Melbourne teens Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, who died in separate Bangkok hospitals after they drank methanol-laced alcohol.
Amongst the tourists who tragically lost their lives were American traveller James Louis Hutson, 57, 28-year-old British woman Simone White and two Danish travellers Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.
When news first broke of the suspected mass poisoning, it was reported that Nana Backpacker Hostel was handing out free vodka shots to guests.
The Hostel’s manager Duong Duc Toan confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that he’d served the Aussie teens free shots of Laotian vodka, but denied that it was the cause of their sickness.
Following investigations into the suspected mass poisoning, eight people including the owner of Nana Backpackers Hostel have been detained by Laos authorities.
Days after backpackers began to fall critically ill over methanol-laced alcohol, ABC News reported that fellow backpackers who’ve stayed at the Vang Vieng Hostel began to leave warnings on its Google reviews page. However, it appears that the posts have been wiped from the platform.
In screenshots obtained by the publication, one reviewer claimed that they were hospitalised after consuming free vodka at the Hostel’s bar.
“I would avoid this hostel,” the review began.
“I stayed at this hostel for five days. Myself and friends were sick from consuming the free vodka here. People we know were taken to hospital, some even in intensive care with serious problems.
“The ones in the hospital have all had traces of methanol in their bloody [sic] stream which is incredibly dangerous. The only event that connects all the different people is drinking at this hostel.
“It could be their supplier adding methanol to the alcohol or the hostel. My concern is the hostel is not taking this seriously enough, every response from them is the same.”
In response to the claims made in the review, a spokesperson for Nana labelled it as a “slander case” and asked for the poster to contact them ASAP.
“Please contact to our Whatsapp number we talk together,” the spokesperson replied.
“We want to address your concerns seriously and clarify a few points. Our hostel has been operating for five years, and during this time, we have always prioritised the safety and well-being of our guests. We take any claims like this very seriously.”
Although the ABC were unable to contact the original poster, they did confirm that they were one of the visitors hospitalised for methanol poisoning.
Alongside the first review, another claimed that their friend is currently in hospital after taking shots from Nana Backpackers Hostel.
“My friend has been to this hostel and is now in hospital. This is due to poisoning with methanol in the drinks served in this hostel,” the review read.
On Wednesday, it was reported that a third Australian has been hospitalised after consuming methanol-laced alcohol in Laos. Per The Guardian Australia, they are believed to be a dual-national citizen and they’re currently in hospital in stable condition.
At the time of writing, the Nana Backpackers Hostel remained closed and no charges have been laid over the deaths of the six tourists.
Image source: Associated Press Photos
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