The Lao government has broken its silence over the alleged mass methanol poisoning that left six people dead, including two Australian teenagers, as authorities say they will bring those responsible to justice.
Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, died after a night out in the party town of Vang Viang this month.
Four other foreign tourists from Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States also died.
Jones and Bowles, who had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel, were rushed to separate hospitals in Thailand after asking hostel staff for help on November 13.
Jones died surrounded by loved ones at Udon Thani hospital on Thursday and Bowles died at nearby Bangkok hospital on Friday.
Now, the Lao government has spoken out for the first time, vowing to “bring the perpetrators to justice” in its first public statements on Saturday’s international incident.
Officials said they were “deeply saddened” and expressed their “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families.
“The government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is deeply saddened by the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province, and expresses its sincere condolences and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” it reads. in the statement.
The Lao government has vowed to bring to justice the perpetrators of the alleged mass poisoning in Vang Viang after the deaths of six people, including Bianca Jones (pictured).
Ms Jones was traveling 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 People’s Democratic Republic has been carrying out investigations to find the causes of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.
“The government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic reaffirms that it always attaches importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.”
The previous night, both girls had been seen drinking at Nana Bar between 8pm and 10.30pm before heading to the nearby Jaidee Bar, where they drank some more.
Shelter staff became concerned when the girls did not leave before they both left late that day asking for medical assistance.
In addition to the six deaths, 14 tourists who had been drinking in the party city suffered methanol poisoning within days of each other.
Following the news of Ms. Jones’ death, local police came to Nana Backpackers to question employees.
Police demanded to see what spirits bar staff consumed on the night Ms Jones and Ms Bowles received free cocktails. The Herald of the Sun reported.
Lao police were seen speaking to employees and inspecting liquor bottles inside the bar during their visit to the hostel.
The owners of the Nana Backpackers hostel have been arrested by the police. Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan (pictured) previously denied diluting his alcohol with methanol when questioned. Police have reportedly detained him for questioning, but no charges have been brought.
Fourteen people fell ill after drinking in Laos and a 56-year-old American man, two women from Denmark and 38-year-old British lawyer Simone White (pictured) have also died so far.
Hostel owner Duong Duc Toan is reportedly among “several people” who have been detained by police for questioning, but no charges have yet been filed.
Other victims of the alleged mass poisoning are the American James Louis Hutson, 57, two young Danish women, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and a 38-year-old British woman. attorney Simone White.
Several people at the shelter where Jones and Bowles were staying have been detained, but no charges have been filed, the Associated Press reports.
Previously, hostel manager Duong Duc Toan and bartender Toan Van Vanng denied that alcohol served at their bar had been contaminated or diluted with methanol.
Toan said he purchased the alcohol from a certified distributor and that free shots of Tiger Vodka had been served to about 100 guests.
The manager said he had not yet received complaints from other backpackers who had been given injections that night.
To prove his point, he even drank from one of the vodka bottles used that night to prove it was safe.
The girl’s WhatsApp messages revealed that they headed to Jaidee’s Bar later that night after leaving the hostel.
Jaidee’s Bar is known for offering its customers free shots of local whiskey and has a paper drug menu that openly sells opium, ketamine and marijuana.
There is no suggestion that Ms Bowles or Ms Jones used illicit drugs.
More than 100 people who knew the girls gathered at a vigil to celebrate their lives in South Melbourne on Saturday.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the federal government is supporting Laos in its investigation into how Jones and Bowles became ill.
“We will continue to support Holly and Bianca’s families, as well as continue our efforts with local authorities in their investigations into this tragedy,” Ms Wong said.