Laos can't determine cause of 6 tourist deaths in methanol case
What's new: Officials found excessive methanol in Tiger Vodka, but no autopsies were done and death-related charges have not been filed.
Laos authorities said they cannot determine the cause of death or assign blame in the 2024 deaths of six tourists in Vang Vieng that were previously linked to methanol-tainted alcohol. The Ministry of Public Security said families did not allow autopsies, leaving investigators without forensic evidence to prove what killed the victims. Officials said the Ministry of Health's Food and Drug Research Center found excessive methanol in Tiger Vodka, and Australian embassy and Thai hospital information showed methanol in the blood of two Australian tourists. Legal proceedings have been opened against the Tiger distillery owner over hazardous products and illegal business operations, while the owner and 10 hostel employees were charged with destroying evidence.