Police detained many people as part of the investigation into the deaths of tourists due to alcohol consumption

VANG VIENG, Laos (AP) — A second Australian teenager later became critically ill drinking tainted alcohol A Laos man died in a Bangkok hospital, his family said Friday. mass poisoning of foreign tourists up to six.

Holly Bowles, 19, was in critical condition on life support following the poisoning in Laos. more than a week ago.

“We are deeply saddened to say that our beautiful daughter Holly is now at peace,” her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10 and other Australian media. “We take comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”

An officer at the Vang Vieng Tourism Police office, who declined to give his name, told The Associated Press on Friday that “several people” have been detained in the case but no charges have yet been filed. Staff at Nana Backpacker Hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those questioned.

Tourist police offices are common throughout Southeast Asia and are set up specifically to assist with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners.

The U.S. State Department issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos on Friday, warning of “suspicious.” methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng “possibly due to the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic beverages” following similar warnings from other countries whose citizens were involved.

Australia’s prime minister announced on Thursday that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment and that her friend Bowles was “fighting for her life” in hospital.

The British Foreign Office said that a 28-year-old British woman named Simone White also died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.

An American and two Danish tourists also died, but details about the causes of death have not yet been released.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said one of its citizens fell ill in Laos and was likely the victim of methanol poisoning.

Laos is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition, and the government keeps the information tightly secret. In this case, officials released almost no details.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment, and the small hospital in Vang Vieng where some of the victims were believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the town’s medical office on hospital grounds. The town’s health officials declined to comment, saying they did not have the necessary permits.

Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but it can cause serious poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew liquor and may have inadvertently found its way into bar drinks.

Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is especially popular with backpackers looking for parties and adventure sports.

New Zealander Neil Farmiloe, owner of the town’s Kiwi Kitchen restaurant, said many of his customers were very concerned about the incident.

“I don’t think this has ever happened before, so I hope it’s a one-off incident,” said Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. “It’s so sad all around. “I’m sure it wasn’t intended to cause injury to anyone, but it happened.”

The two 19-year-old Australian women, who both died, fell ill after a night of drinking with a group on November 13.

They were unable to check out of Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found ill in their room and were subsequently taken to Thailand for emergency treatment.

Thai authorities confirmed that Jones died of “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol in his system.”

Duong Duc Toan, manager of Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before they were detained that the two women had joined other guests to drink free Laotian vodka before going elsewhere and returning in the early morning hours.

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The rises were reported from Bangkok.

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