Six tourists have died in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos after unknowingly drinking alcohol drinks containing methanol. Photo / Getty Images / 123rf
Six tourists have died in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos after unknowingly drinking alcohol drinks containing methanol. Photo / Getty Images / 123rf
As some of their number succumbed to methanol poisoning, other guests at the Laotian hostel at the centre of the probe tried to warn others to stay away - and the hostel reportedly deleted their warning.
Australia’s ABCis reporting that online reviewers desperately tried to get the word outbefore news of the first deaths were made public.
“Do not go here!! They have methanol in their drinks and me and three others have been hospitalised because of this,” one message shared by the ABC read.
“I stayed at this hostel for five days. Myself and friends were sick from consuming the free vodka here,” another tourist said.
“People we know were taken to hospital, some even in intensive care with serious problems. The ones in hospital have all had traces of methanol in their bloodstream which is incredibly dangerous.
In response to the now-deleted reviews, the owners described the comments as a “slander case” and claimed to have “always prioritised the safety and wellbeing of our guests”.
Kiwi comes home
A Kiwi tourist believed to have been caught up in the poisoning returned home earlier this week.
Australian teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning event in Laos.
On Monday, a spokeswoman confirmed the tourist had been able to return to New Zealand.
“The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok [which has responsibility for Laos] has been providing assistance to one New Zealander who we believe to have been poisoned with methanol in Laos,” she said.
“They have now departed Laos and returned home.”
Mfat has updated its travel advisory for Laos to note there have been several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks.
“Travellers are advised to be cautious about consuming alcoholic beverages, particularly cocktails and drinks made with spirits that may have been adulterated with harmful substances. Know the signs of methanol poisoning and seek immediate medical attention if poisoning is suspected.”
It’s understood the owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel where the two friends had been staying was detained on Friday for questioning by police in Laos, according to the ABC.
The two Australian victims are believed to have started their night with free drinks at the hostel before heading out to other bars.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, as well as depression of the central nervous system. This can cause people to become unconscious and potentially enter a coma.
Methanol poisoning can also cause retinal damage, leading to vision loss.
Treatment includes supportive care such as intubation and ventilation to help the patient breathe, and some medicinal care may be provided to remove methanol from the body.
