Mass poisoning blamed on tainted alcohol with American among four tourists dead
An American citizen has died at a popular adventure spot in Laos where alcohol tainted with methanol has been blamed for a spate of poisonings in recent days.
An American citizen has died at a popular adventure spot in Laos where alcohol tainted with methanol has been blamed for a spate of poisonings in recent days.
The State Department said the U.S. citizen died in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers to the north of the South East Asian country’s capital. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss,” a spokesperson told NBC News Thursday.
They did not reveal the victim’s identity or their cause of death out of respect to the family.
Their comments came as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to 19-year-old Bianca Jones who died in Thailand after being evacuated from Vang Vieng for treatment, along with her friend Holly Bowles, also 19.
“Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss,” Albanese said in an address to Australia’s parliament. “This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.”
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