Tourists disembark from a boat ride along the Nam Song river in Vang Vieng on Sunday. The Laos government expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng, with the number of fatalities from a suspected methanol poisoning incident now at six.
A New Zealand citizen, poisoned after consuming contaminated alcohol in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos, has returned home, according to authorities on Monday. Laos has vowed to prosecute those responsible for the incident, which has claimed the lives of six tourists.
"The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok has been providing assistance to one New Zealander who we believe to have been poisoned with methanol in Laos. They have now departed Laos and returned home," a spokesperson for the New Zealand foreign ministry said via email, without disclosing further details about the individual.
Two Danes, two Australians, a Briton, and an American have died from methanol poisoning after visiting Vang Vieng, a picturesque town favored by foreign backpackers. Mark Jones, the father of 19-year-old Australian Bianca, urged officials in the Southeast Asian country to take stringent measures to prevent similar incidents.
"We can't let the loss of our daughter's life go without leading to changes that protect others," Jones told reporters outside the hospital in Bangkok where his daughter had been transferred after falling ill.
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support the families of Jones and her 19-year-old friend Holly Bowles, to cover the costs of bringing them home and to fund awareness campaigns. As of Monday morning, the campaign had raised approximately A$179,000.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that his government is working closely with the Thai and Laos governments and has offered the assistance of the Australian Federal Police for the investigation. "We will also examine how this tragic incident, which has affected so many, can be prevented in the future," Albanese told parliament.
The Laos foreign ministry has been conducting investigations to determine the causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice according to the law. Australia, the United States, and Britain have cautioned their citizens to be vigilant when consuming drinks in Laos, where counterfeit alcohol and homemade spirits are a significant issue.
New Zealand advised travelers on Monday to be cautious about consuming alcoholic beverages, particularly cocktails and drinks made with spirits that may have been adulterated with harmful substances. Methanol, a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source, is the substance believed to be responsible for the poisoning.
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