Laos says it can't determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol
However, the ministry added, officials had found "excessive levels of methanol" in vodka made by the distillery involved. It is absorbed in the gut within minutes and then gets into the bloodstream. Vang Vieng is a riverside town in central Laos and is a hub for backpackers travelling across South-East Asia.Last week the British government launched a campaign warning tourists of the risks of methanol.
- ▪However, the ministry added, officials had found "excessive levels of methanol" in vodka made by the distillery involved.
- ▪It is absorbed in the gut within minutes and then gets into the bloodstream.
- ▪Vang Vieng is a riverside town in central Laos and is a hub for backpackers travelling across South-East Asia.Last week the British government launched a campaign warning tourists of the risks of methanol.
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| Original publisher | BBC News |
| Canonical URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx8rj99endo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss |
| Publication time | Sat, 18 Jul 2026 11:10:20 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-07-18T11:22:30.941Z |
| Last seen | 2026-07-18T11:36:30.584Z |
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Laos says it can't determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol Image source, Social media/handoutImage caption, The victims included Australians Holly Bowles (L) and Bianca Jones (R) and Briton Simone White (C) ByOlivia IrelandPublished18 July 2026, 10:30 BSTUpdated 13 minutes agoLaos says it cannot determine blame or cause for six deaths linked to methanol-tainted alcohol.A Briton, two Australians, two Danish citizens and an American died in November 2024 following a night out in Vang Vieng.Laos Ministry of Public Security said they did not have evidence to establish if the deaths "were caused by the actions of any individual or by any particular cause, because no autopsies were conducted on the bodies".It emerged earlier this week that the distillery owner is facing charges for…
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