Laos says it cannot determine responsibility or cause of six deaths linked to alcohol contaminated with methanol.
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 it did not have evidence to establish whether the deaths “were caused by the actions of an individual or a specific cause, as no autopsies were performed on the bodies.”
It emerged earlier this week that the distillery owner was facing charges for selling food products harmful to health and operating an illegal business, but not for the deaths.
The charges collectively carry penalties of up to one year in prison and a fine of £829 (US$1,100; AU$1,600) against those allegedly responsible.
In response, the Australian government stated that it was “deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed” more serious charges were not pursued after the deaths of the six backpackers.
The Australian Foreign Ministry summoned the Laos ambassador to Canberra.
In its statement released Saturday, Laos’ Ministry of Public Security said authorities had not been authorized to conduct autopsies in 2024 and therefore “lacked the necessary forensic evidence to determine the cause of death.”
However, the ministry added, authorities found “excessive levels of methanol” in the vodka made by the affected distillery.
THE victims included Simone White, a 28-year-old Briton, 19-year-old Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, both from Denmark, and American James Louis Hutson, 57.
Australian media reported at the time that the Australian Federal Police had offered to help Laos with the investigation, but was refused. The usual time frame for an autopsy to be performed should be two to three days after death.
The bodies of the two Australians were repatriated two weeks after their deaths.
The victims are believed to have drunk free shots contaminated with methanol, a toxic substance normally found in paint thinner but which is sometimes mixed illegally with alcohol to cut costs.
The poison is a colorless liquid that tastes similar to alcohol, and drinking a relatively small amount can be fatal.
It is absorbed in the intestine within a few minutes and then enters the bloodstream. When the body attempts to eliminate methanol – by breaking it down or metabolizing it in the liver – an enzyme converts it to formaldehyde and formic acid.
Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where guests were unable to leave the premises after falling ill on November 13.
Earlier this year, 10 people linked to the hostel were charged with destroying evidence and given suspended sentences and fines of $185 (£135) each.
Vang Vieng is a riverside town in central Laos and is a hub for backpackers traveling across Southeast Asia.
Last week, the British government launched a campaign warning tourists of the risks of methanol.
Some of the symptoms of methanol poisoning may include:
Vomiting, poor judgment, loss of balance and drowsiness are early signs
12 to 48 hours after drinking, symptoms may include abdominal pain, dizziness, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, blurred vision and/or blindness, coma, and seizures.
Vision problems are a distinctive red flag, including blurred vision, difficulty looking at bright lights, and in some cases, total blindness. “Snowfield vision” (seeing static snow like on an old TV) or tunnel vision may also occur.
