Laos Identifies Three More Tourists in Suspected Methanol Poisoning Deaths

Officials in Laos have disclosed the identities of two Danish women and an American man whose deaths are attributed to suspected methanol poisoning, believed to have resulted from consuming contaminated alcohol. The deceased individuals, identified as Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and American citizen James Louis Hutson, 57, were all accommodated at the Nana hostel located in Vang Vieng, a riverside town known as a tourist center approximately two hours’ drive north of the capital, Vientiane. This incident follows the deaths of three other tourists, one of whom was British, in the same town last week, also from suspected methanol poisoning. During a visit to the hostel, Vang Vieng Governor Bounchan Malavong pledged to conduct an investigation and committed to prosecuting those accountable for these fatalities. Local media outlets reported that the two young Danish women were discovered unconscious in their hostel room on November 13, having visited a city bar the preceding evening. They were transported to a hospital in the capital, Vientiane, where they passed away during the night. The medical staff attributed their deaths to sudden heart failure. Concurrently, on the day the two Danish women were discovered, hostel personnel observed that American tourist Hutson had not emerged from his room. Upon entering to check on him, they found him deceased on his bed, surrounded by several empty drinking glasses. Local media indicated that no bruises or wounds were present on his body. During a subsequent visit to the hostel, the governor reiterated his promise that individuals responsible for the deaths would face charges, and confirmed that the hostel has been shut down for investigative purposes. He also stated that local authorities would ensure compliance with the law by local businesses. A significant portion of the inquiry has centered on the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where some of the victims had been residing. It was noted that Australian girls had consumed complimentary shots at the establishment prior to their evening outing. The manager of the hostel has disclaimed responsibility, asserting that the identical beverages were provided to a minimum of 100 other patrons that night, none of whom reported any adverse effects. Methanol, a lethal compound, is frequently present in illicitly produced alcohol. Medical experts indicate that ingesting as little as 25 milliliters can be deadly, yet it is occasionally incorporated into beverages due to its lower cost compared to ethanol. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.