A suspected mass methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos, has claimed the lives of six foreign tourists. The casualties include 28-year-old British national Simone White, 19-year-old Australian friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, an unnamed American man, and two Danish women. Now identified as Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.
Backpacking Dream Turns to Nightmare Due to Methanol Poisoning
Coyman and Sorensen, friends from Roskilde, Denmark, were on a backpacking trip across Southeast Asia. They had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng before falling seriously ill. Local authorities have since detained the hostel’s manager and owner as part of the investigation into the deaths.
A Chilling Account of the Final Hours
Concern for Coyman and Sorensen’s welfare was raised by a Belgian man who had planned to meet them in Vang Vieng. A friend of the man later issued a harrowing warning to travelers. He described how the two women suffered for hours before succumbing to their symptoms. “The strange thing was that their last message was that they had both been vomiting blood for 13 hours… They have both since died,” the man shared, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Timeline of Events
According to a local police report cited by The Sydney Morning Herald, Coyman and Sorensen visited multiple bars in Vang Vieng on the night of November 12 before returning to their hostel around midnight. They remained in their room until the following evening when hostel staff discovered them unconscious on the bathroom floor. Both women were taken to Vang Vieng Hospital in a comatose state, but tragically, they did not survive.
Broader Impact: 11 More Hospitalized
The poisoning incident has not only resulted in six deaths but also left 11 other foreign nationals hospitalized. The exact cause of the poisoning is suspected to be methanol contamination in locally produced alcoholic beverages, a known risk in parts of Southeast Asia.
Read More: Woman’s Water Bottle Was ‘Poisoning’ Her For Weeks: Are You Making The Same Mistake?
Government Response and Promises of Justice
In an official statement, the Laos government expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to hold those responsible accountable. “The Government of the Lao PDR is profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng… and reaffirms that it always attaches importance to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.” The statement read.
Methanol Poisoning: A Deadly Threat
Methanol poisoning is a known danger in countries where regulations on alcohol production and distribution are less stringent. A toxic form of alcohol, methanol can be inadvertently or intentionally added to beverages to cut costs. Ingesting even small amounts can lead to severe symptoms, including vomiting, blindness, organ failure, and death.
Urgent Call for Safety Measures
The tragic deaths in Vang Vieng highlight the urgent need for stricter regulation of alcohol production and more robust safety measures for tourists. While Southeast Asia remains a popular destination for backpackers, incidents like this underscore the risks of consuming unregulated beverages.
Moving Forward: A Community in Mourning
As the investigation into the methanol poisoning continues, the international community mourns the loss of six young lives. Friends, family members, and fellow travelers are left grappling with the shocking and preventable nature of these deaths.
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance while traveling in unfamiliar regions. With the Laos government pledging justice, travelers and locals alike hope this tragedy will prompt meaningful changes to prevent further loss of life.
Read More: Mom shares warning after son, 9, dies of carbon monoxide poisoning on lake trip