BANGKOK — The Laos authorities stated Saturday it was “profoundly saddened” by the deaths of international vacationers in Vang Vieng, with the toll from a suspected methanol poisoning incident now at six.
A press release posted on its Ministry of International Affairs web site stated it expressed “honest sympathy and deepest condolences to the households of the deceased”, including an investigation was underway to seek out the reason for the incident.
Six vacationers died of suspected methanol poisoning after an evening out within the Laos backpacker hotspot of Vang Vieng final week.
READ: Tainted alcohol case in Laos: 2nd Australian teen dies
The 2 Danish residents, an American, a Briton and two Australians had been amongst a gaggle of a few dozen foreigners who fell unwell shortly after November 12.
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Australian officers are urgent Laotian authorities for a full and clear investigation into what occurred.
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Vang Vieng has been a fixture on the Southeast Asia backpacker path since Laos’ secretive communist rulers opened the nation to tourism a long time in the past.
The city was as soon as synonymous with backpackers behaving badly at jungle events however has since re-branded as an eco-tourism vacation spot.
The Vietnamese supervisor of the Nana Backpackers Hostel has been detained for questioning, the Laos vacationer police advised AFP.
READ: 4 lifeless, together with American, Aussie vacationers, in deadly Laos alcohol poisoning
No prices have been made, nonetheless.
Police in Laos couldn’t be reached for touch upon Saturday.
A spokesman for Thailand’s international ministry expressed condolences for the dying of the second Australian who had been transported to Thailand from Laos “for therapy for methanol poisoning” in an announcement posted on X Saturday.
Alcohol tainted with methanol is suspected to be the reason for the deaths.
Methanol is a poisonous alcohol that may be added to liquor to extend its efficiency however may cause blindness, liver harm and dying.
On their journey recommendation web sites, UK and Australian authorities have warned their residents to watch out for methanol poisoning whereas consuming alcohol in Laos.