A US citizen has died in a tourist town in Laos, Southeast Asia, following reports that several travelers suffered suspected cases of alcohol poisoning in the same town after possibly consuming contaminated drinks .
A State Department spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that the death occurred in Vang Vieng.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance,” the spokesperson said, adding that local authorities were responsible for determining the cause of death. The name of the victim has not been released.
Australian media also reported that two Danish tourists had died after drinking contaminated alcohol in Vang Vieng, but details could not immediately be confirmed.
Asked about media reports, the Danish Foreign Ministry told the Associated Press that “two Danish citizens have died in Laos” but could not provide details for “confidentiality reasons on matters personal.”
Anupam Nath/AP
Meanwhile, two Australian tourists were being treated in Thailand for serious alcohol poisoning after drinking tainted drinks in Vang Vieng, Australian media reported on Tuesday.
The two 19-year-old women were on vacation in Laos when they fell ill in Vang Vieng, The Age newspaper in Melbourne, the women’s hometown, reported.
Duong Duc Toan, manager of Nana Backpacker Hostel, said on Tuesday that other guests told staff that the two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on November 13, and they arranged for transportation to a hospital.
He said that two days earlier, the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free glasses of Lao vodka offered by the hostel as a gesture of hospitality. He said no other guests reported any problems, adding that the women then left to go out in the evening and returned early in the morning.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand, but could not provide further information due to privacy concerns.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” the office said.
They were then transported to Thailand and are being treated at hospitals in Bangkok and Udon Thani, The Age reported. Their parents flew in to be with them.
It’s not clear what the two drank, but methanol is sometimes used as alcohol in mixed drinks at unreputable bars and can cause serious poisoning or even death.
Vang Vieng is a tourist town particularly popular with backpackers looking for partying and adventure sports. It seemed to be business as usual on Tuesday evening in the area surrounding the hostel, teeming with bars and food stalls.
It was not immediately possible to verify reports that other tourists were also poisoned in the same incident.
Toan, the hostel manager, said he hoped the investigation would clear his name, but for now the hostel has stopped giving free shots to its guests.
