Eight Hostel Staff Arrested Following Six Tourist Deaths in Laos

Fri Mar 14 2025 15:03:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)
Eight Hostel Staff Arrested Following Six Tourist Deaths in Laos

Authorities detain personnel from a Vang Vieng backpacker hostel as methanol poisoning investigation unfolds after multiple fatalities.


The tragic deaths of six tourists due to suspected methanol poisoning in Laos have led to the detention of eight staff members from the Nana Backpacker Hostel. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding these deaths is ongoing, with concerns rising among travelers about alcohol safety in the region.



Police in Laos have detained eight employees of a backpacker hostel in Vang Vieng amid ongoing investigations into the suspected methanol poisoning deaths of six tourists. The victims included four foreigners, with the initial reports indicating that the hostel's management allowed the serving of dangerous, bootleg alcohol. Notably, the once-popular Nana Backpacker Hostel is now under scrutiny after previous claims from its owners denying the sale of illegal liquor.

Among the detained were hostel workers and upper management following the unfortunate death of two Australian women, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, who fell seriously ill after consuming complimentary shots. They were hospitalized in Thailand before passing away days later. Other victims, including two Danish women, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, experienced similar fates in Vang Vieng, a spot long-known for its vibrant backpacking scene.

On November 13, the day of the Danish tourists' decline, staff discovered American tourist James Louis Hutson unresponsive in his room with empty glasses spread around him. Each visit to the area has become a source of mounting concern for many travelers, particularly women, as panic sets in post-events highlighting the risk of methanol consumption.

The allure of free alcohol shots and party-centric offerings in Vang Vieng is being reconsidered by many visitors, with governments from New Zealand, Australia, and the UK issuing warnings against consuming local spirits. With methanol poisoning proving a key issue throughout Southeast Asia, the recent deaths shed light on inadequate regulations that have left many tourists vulnerable. Amid fears of further incidents, some travelers are opting to abstain from spirits altogether in this now-dubious hotspot.

MORE ON THEME

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:50:18 GMT

Investigators Link Power Bank to South Korean Plane Fire Incident

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:50:18 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:16:22 GMT

British Tourist Dies in Hit-and-Run Involving Kenyan Presidential Convoy

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:16:22 GMT
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:30:41 GMT

German Intelligence Agency Suggests Lab Leak Likely Behind COVID-19

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:30:41 GMT
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:56:57 GMT

Belgian Police Raid Multiple Sites in Huawei Lobbying Corruption Investigation

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:56:57 GMT
Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:12:58 GMT

**Investigation Underway After North Sea Collision Leaves One Missing and Man Arrested for Manslaughter**

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:12:58 GMT
Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:14:33 GMT

Syria Ends Military Operation Amidst Escalating Sectarian Violence

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:14:33 GMT
Tue, 11 Mar 2025 04:26:26 GMT

Rwanda's Strategic Gamble: Attracting Business, Sports Amid Conflict

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 04:26:26 GMT
Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:44:35 GMT

Syria's Military Campaign Against Assad Loyalists Concludes Amid Escalating Violence

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:44:35 GMT
Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:12:12 GMT

Ex-Police Chief 'Joe Ferrari' Found Dead in Jail Amid Controversy

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:12:12 GMT
Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:36:37 GMT

Syrian Leadership Promises Justice Amid Escalating Violence

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:36:37 GMT
Mon, 10 Mar 2025 06:46:04 GMT

Former Thai Police Chief Found Dead in Jail Amid Controversy

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 06:46:04 GMT
Sun, 09 Mar 2025 16:40:13 GMT

Bahía Blanca Under Siege: Flooding Forces Evacuations in Argentine City

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 16:40:13 GMT
Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:02:25 GMT

Armed Confrontation Leads to Shooting by Secret Service Near White House

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:02:25 GMT
Sun, 09 Mar 2025 02:29:51 GMT

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa: A Love Story Ended by Tragedy

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 02:29:51 GMT
Sat, 08 Mar 2025 19:01:46 GMT

Two Women Gang-Raped Near UNESCO Site in India, Investigation Underway

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 19:01:46 GMT
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 23:31:39 GMT

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Pass Away One Week Apart

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 23:31:39 GMT
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 08:10:00 GMT

**Daughter of Convicted Rapist Speaks Out: Claims Father's Abuse in Shocking New Allegations**

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 08:10:00 GMT
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:01:41 GMT

Accidental Bomb Drop by South Korean Jets Injures 15 Civilians

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:01:41 GMT
Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:43:07 GMT

Gabon Football's Dark Chapter: Life Ban for Coach Highlights Ongoing Abuse Issues

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:43:07 GMT
Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:12:39 GMT

Suspension of Nigerian Senator Sparks National Outrage

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:12:39 GMT

Follow us

© 2024 SwissX REDD UK ltd. All Rights Reserved.