The government in Laos has broken its silence on the suspected mass methanol poisoning that left six dead, including two Australian teenagers, as authorities claim they will bring whoever was responsible to justice.
Melbourne teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, died after a night out in the party town of Vang Viang this month.
A further four foreign tourists from Denmark, the UK and the US have also died.
Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, who had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel, were rushed to separate Thailand hospitals after asking hostel staff for help on November 13.
Ms Jones died surrounded by loved ones in Udon Thani hospital on Thursday and Ms Bowles died in nearby Bangkok Hospital on Friday.
Now, the government of Laos has spoken out for the first time, vowing to ‘bring the perpetrators to justice’ in its first public remarks on the international incident on Saturday.
Officials said they were ‘deeply saddened’ and extended their ‘deepest condolences’ to the families of the victims.
‘The government of the Lao PDR is profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province and expresses its sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,’ the statement read.
The Laos government has vowed to bring the perpetrators of a suspected mass poisoning in Vang Viang to justice after six people, including Bianca Jones (pictured), died
Ms Jones was travelling with her best friend Holly Bowles (pictured) when the pair developed methanol poisoning after drinking at Nana Backpackers Hostel and Jaidee Bar on November 13
‘The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.
‘The government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it always attaches the importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.’
The night prior both girls had been seen drinking at Nana’s bar between 8pm and 10.30pm before heading to nearby Jaidee Bar where they drank some more.
Hostel staff became concerned when the girls failed to check out before both emerged late in the day asking for medical assistance.
In addition to the six deaths, 14 tourists who had been drinking in the party town developed methanol poisoning within days of each other.
Following news of Ms Jones’ death, local police attended Nana Backpackers to question employees.
Police demanded to see which spirits were used by bar staff on the night Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were provided free cocktails, The Herald Sun reported.
Laos Police were seen talking to employees and inspecting bottles of spirits inside the bar during their visit to the hostel.
The hostel owner, Duong Duc Toan, is reportedly among ‘a number of people’ who have been detained by police for questioning, but no charges have yet been filed.
The owners of Nana Backpackers hostel have been detained by police. Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan (pictured) previously denied diluting his alcohol with any methanol when questioned
Fourteen people fell ill after drinking in Laos and so far a 56-year-old US man, two women from Denmark and 38-year-old British lawyer Simone White (pictured) have also died
Other victims of the suspected mass-poisoning include a 56-year-old US man, two young women from Denmark and 38-year-old British lawyer Simone White.
A ‘number of people’ from the hostel where Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were staying have been detained but no charges have been laid, reports the Associated Press.
Previously, Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan and bartender Toan Van Vanng denied any alcohol served at their bar had been contaminated or diluted with methanol.
Toan said he bought the alcohol from a certified distributor and that free shots of Tiger Vodka had been served to around 100 guests.
The manager said he had yet to received any complaints from other backpackers who been given shots on the night.
To prove his point, he even drank from one of the vodka bottles that were in use on the night to prove it was safe.
The girl’s WhatsApp messages revealed they headed to Jaidee’s Bar later in the night after leaving the hostel.
Jaidee’s Bar is known to offer patrons free local whisky shots and has a hard-copy drug menu openly selling opium, ketamine and marijuana.
There is no suggestion that Ms Bowles or Ms Jones took illicit drugs.
More than 100 people who knew the girls gathered for a vigil to celebrate their lives in Melbourne’s south on Saturday.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the federal government is supporting Laos in its investigation into how Ms Jones and Ms Bowles fell ill.
‘[We will] continue to support Holly and Bianca’s families, just as we will continue our efforts with local authorities on investigations into this tragedy,’ Ms Wong said.
