The Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing assistance to Britons in Laos following a horror suspected mass-poisoning incident in which two people died.
Local media reported earlier this week that two Danish nationals died and a further two Australian teens were hospitalised with what is believed to be methanol poisoning after they drank tainted alcohol at the Nana Hostel in the resort town Vang Vieng. The two Aussie tourists, named as 19-year-olds Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, are now fighting for their lives in Thai hospitals in Bangkok and Udon Thani.
Warnings have since started circulating through social media sites warning backpackers to steer clear of alcohol while they are staying in the area, with several other people reported to have fallen ill. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has now confirmed it is supporting Britons who are staying in Laos.
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In a statement to the Daily Mirror, the FCDO said it is “providing consular assistance” to British nationals and their families, and that representatives are in contact with Laos authorities. A spokesperson said: “We are providing consular assistance to British nationals and their families and are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Laos.”
The department’s international counterparts are also liaising with Laos authorities, with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stating that it was providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand. A spokesperson for the department said: “Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time.”
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Authorities are yet to confirm what the tourists drank when they were poisoned, with early reports pointing towards possible methanol consumption. Methanol is a dangerous chemical that is sometimes used as a cheap ethanol substitute and mixed in drinks. But it is highly toxic, and consumption of even limited amounts can prove deadly.
Nana Hostel owner Duong van Huan, who has been in business in both the Laotian capital Vientiane and Vang Vieng for 11 years, told ABC News Australia that he is certain the poisoned drinks were not sold at his bar, adding that none of his other hostel guests fell ill. Mr van Huan also strongly denied adding methanol to the drinks at the bar and said police had already checked his business.
He said: “The police in Vang Vieng and Vientiane already came to the hostel to check, the shop (where) we buy the vodka, check the shop [where] we buy the whisky. We don’t do anything wrong, for sure.” The business owner added that this was the first time this had happened during his career.
Mr Duong van Huan said: “I really take care of all of the customers [who] stay with our hotel and our hostel.”
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