Fri Nov 22 09:46:43 UTC 2024: ## Second Australian Teen Dies After Laos Methanol Poisoning; Death Toll Reaches Six
**Vang Vieng, Laos/Bangkok, Thailand –** A second Australian teenager has died after consuming methanol-tainted alcohol in Laos, raising the death toll from the mass poisoning incident to six. Holly Bowles, 19, passed away in a Bangkok hospital on Friday, November 22nd, according to her family. This follows the death of another Australian teenager, Bianca Jones, earlier this week.
Bowles and Jones, both 19, fell ill on November 13th after a night out in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination in Laos. They were found unwell in their hostel room and subsequently transferred to Thailand for emergency treatment. Thai authorities confirmed Jones’ death was due to brain swelling caused by high methanol levels.
The incident has claimed the lives of tourists from Australia, Britain, the United States, and Denmark. A New Zealand citizen is also reportedly suffering from suspected methanol poisoning.
Laotian authorities have detained several individuals, including the manager and owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel where the Australian teenagers were staying, but no charges have been filed. The Laotian government has released minimal information about the ongoing investigation. The U.S. State Department issued a health alert warning citizens about the suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng.
Methanol, a toxic alcohol, is sometimes added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper substitute for ethanol or can be a byproduct of poorly distilled liquor. The source of the contaminated alcohol remains under investigation.
The incident has cast a shadow over Vang Vieng’s tourism industry. Local business owners express concern about the impact on tourism, although some believe it to be an isolated incident. The lack of transparency from Laotian authorities has raised concerns among international communities.
First Piper 