Laos authorities plan to charge suspects in methanol deaths of Australian tourists

Laotian authorities are expected to file charges on Friday against individuals connected to the deaths of two Australian tourists from methanol poisoning in November, with penalties limited to one year in prison and a fine of approximately 1,600 Australian dollars.

The victims, Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, died along with four other foreign tourists after drinking at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng. The other victims were an American man, a British woman, and two Danish women.

Mark Jones, Bianca’s father, told reporters in Melbourne that the penalties fall far short of what the families consider appropriate. Shaun Bowles, Holly’s father, said the anticipated charges were mind-boggling given Laos’s status as a popular destination for young travelers.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated in a July 17, 2026 statement that she was deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed that authorities were not pursuing the most serious charges.

The two Australian women had been staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where they consumed free shots of Laotian vodka before heading to other venues. They were later found ill in their room, evacuated to hospitals in Thailand, and died there. Earlier this year, ten people connected to the hostel were charged with destroying evidence and received suspended sentences along with fines of $185 each.

Australian media reported that the Laos ministry had written to the families with details of the expected new charges. Wong’s office did not immediately provide details on the exact number of people expected to be charged. The Laos Embassy in Canberra did not respond to a request for comment.