Laos says it cannot determine cause of six tourists' deaths

Laotian authorities stated on Saturday, July 18, 2026, that they cannot determine blame or the cause of death for six foreign tourists who died in November 2024, citing a lack of forensic evidence after the victims' families refused autopsies. The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the governments of Australia and Denmark, who argue that the resulting legal charges do not reflect the gravity of the tragedy.

The six tourists-two Australians, two Danish citizens, a Briton, and an American-died after a night out in the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng in November 2024. Investigators believe the group consumed complimentary alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol sometimes illegally mixed with beverages. In a statement, Laos's Ministry of Public Security said that without autopsies, authorities lacked the evidence to establish whether the deaths were caused by any individual's actions or a specific cause.

However, the ministry confirmed that its Food and Drug Research Center found excessive levels of methanol in Tiger Vodka, a product from a local distillery. Based on information from a Thai hospital and the Australian Embassy, methanol...