A mass poisoning incident involving tainted alcohol in Laos has resulted in the deaths of at least six foreign tourists, including two Australians, a Briton, an American, and two Danish nationals, AP News reports.
The victims are believed to have consumed alcoholic drinks at local bars, suspected to contain dangerous levels of methanol, which is often used as a cheaper alternative to ethanol in improperly distilled liquor, leading to severe poisoning or death. The tourists were rushed to hospitals in Thailand for emergency treatment after falling critically ill but later succumbed to methanol poisoning, which causes severe brain swelling.
Laos authorities have detained several individuals, including the manager and owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, for questioning, though no charges have been filed. The incident has prompted health alerts from several countries, including the US.
