Laos government ‘saddened’ by suspected poisoning deaths and is investigating

The Laos government has said it is “profoundly saddened” and is investigating the deaths of six people from suspected methanol poisoning, including a British lawyer.

Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, was one of a number of people taken to hospital after the incident in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week.

Police in Laos have detained the manager and owner of a hostel in connection with the death of Ms White and five others, who are also believed to have been poisoned.

In a statement released to the media, the Laos government said it was “profoundly saddened” over the deaths of foreign tourists and offered its condolences to their families.

It added that is has been investigating “to find causes of the incident” and to “bring the perpetrators to justice”.

On Friday, Ms White’s parents said they are “devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter”.

In a statement, Ms White’s parents added: “Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life.

“She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.

“Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family.

“Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”
An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office said no charges have been filed but a “number of people” have been detained in the case.

Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.

Ms White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, whose work involved general commercial matters, and contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law issues, according to the firm’s website.

In a statement, the law firm said Ms White was a “talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised (our firm’s) values”.

The FCDO said it was also providing consular assistance to British nationals being treated in hospital after the incident, as well as their families.

Five others are currently known to have died, including two Australian teenagers, an American and two Danish tourists.

The FCDO said it was in contact with the local authorities regarding the British nationals affected.

Those poisoned in the incident are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used by disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death.

Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said staff were told by other guests that the women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on November 13, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them.

He said the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel two days earlier.

He said no other guest reported any issue, adding the alleged victims had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told his country’s parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng for treatment in a Thai hospital.

A second Australian was reported to have died on Friday following the incident.

Australia said “several foreign nationals” had been victims of methanol poisoning.

The US State Department confirmed an American had died and Denmark’s Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens also died in “the incident in Laos”, but neither would comment directly on a link to the methanol poisoning that killed Ms Jones.

Thai authorities confirmed Ms Jones died because of a “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.

Landlocked Laos is one of south-east Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination.

Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.

Officials in Laos have released almost no details about the case, with the government keeping a tight lid on information.

The country is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition.