In a tragic incident at a popular backpacker destination in Laos, six foreign tourists have reportedly died after consuming contaminated alcohol, suspected to contain methanol.
The victims include two Danish backpackers, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, who had been exploring Southeast Asia.
They communicated with a friend about experiencing severe vomiting before their sudden silence, leading to their discovery deceased in their hostel room.
The tainted alcohol is believed to have originated from the Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, where the two women had been staying.
Along with the Danish tourists, four others, including Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, have also succumbed to the effects of the suspected poison.
Eleven additional tourists remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Local authorities have detained the hostel’s manager and owner for questioning, although formal charges have yet to be filed.
The manager claimed to have offered free shots of local vodka to the victims prior to their illness but denied any responsibility for their deaths.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2012, when multiple backpackers died from unsafe alcohol in the same area, prompting safety measures to be implemented.
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Experts have pointed to methanol poisoning as the likely cause, as symptoms in the affected individuals align with exposure to this toxic substance.
Methanol, a deadly alternative to ethanol often found in bootleg alcohol, can be fatal even in small amounts.
Public health officials warn travelers in Southeast Asia to avoid illegal or homemade alcoholic beverages to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
