Transcript of Warning to tourists as sixth traveller dies in Laos from methanol poisoning | BBC News

The young Australian woman died today, the sixth foreign tourist to lose their life in Laos, in Southeast Asia, from suspected methanol poisoning. Holly Bowles was 19 on holiday with her best friend in the middle there, Bianca Jones, who's also died. This is Simone White, a lawyer from Kent who died yesterday. They were in a town called Vang Vieng in Laos that's popular among backpackers. Two other victims, aged 19 and 20, were from Denmark, and an American man his 50s has also died. Some of those who fell ill were taken to hospital in neighboring Thailand, from where Rupert Wingfield-Hayes has the very latest.

This is a video Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles posted on TikTok earlier this year. Two best friends full of joy about to take off on the adventure of a lifetime. Today, news came that 19-year-old Holly had died from methanol poisoning. Bianca, also 19, died in hospital yesterday.

Holly was brought all the way from Laos to this Bangkok hospital where doctors tried to save her life. But experts say methanol poisoning is extremely dangerous. As little as 25 milliliters can be fatal, and prompt treatment is key to survival.

Meanwhile, the family of British victim, Simone White, today released a statement describing her as one of a kind. She had the most wonderful energy and spark for life, it said. She has been taken from us too soon. She will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother, and entire family. The town of Wangdian has become a popular destination for young travelers, thanks to its natural beauty, river rafting, and its reputation as a party town.

Come with me to Nana Backpackers Hostel in Lowe.

This is the Nana Hostel, where some of the victims are thought to have stayed. It's not known where any of them were poisoned, but the manager of the hostel has now been detained. Now, tourists who were supposed to go to the hostel are staying clear, and many are leaving the town.

I spoke to my mom and dad yesterday, just as the news was coming out, and they were both just absolutely distraught, crying, saying, Please come home. It's awful, really. I've managed to book. I'm going to Australia next. I managed to move the flight forward by two days and get one of the few trains with tickets left out of Van Vien today.

News of the deaths has spread fast, nowhere more so than here in Bangkok.

This is the famous Khaosan Road in Bangkok, and this is the place where for people from all over the world, their Southeast Asia adventure begins. And while we have met some people here tonight who said they have decided not to go to Laos because what has happened there, we've also met plenty of others who are entirely unperturbed.

I was there a few weeks ago, so at the time, I didn't know anything about it.

And what have your parents said to you?

They're glad I'm out of Laos, but I'm on my own in Thailand for about months now, so I think I'm a bit more apprehensive.

It worries my mom a little bit more, I reckon. But I'm definitely going to play it safe, pace myself, try have drinks with a bottle cap on them and stuff like that. Keep my wits about me, I reckon.

More and more young people are traveling to Southeast Asia to enjoy the free wheeling party scene, but many are unaware of the dangers can lie in wait. Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News in Bangkok.