this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2024
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Summary

Holly Bowles, a 19-year-old Australian, has become the sixth foreign tourist to die from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.

She and her friend Bianca Jones fell ill in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacking town, after reportedly consuming tainted alcohol, which can be lethal even in small amounts.

Other victims include a British lawyer, an American man, and two Danish women. Methanol, often found in bootleg or home-distilled alcohol, is believed to be the cause.

Authorities are investigating, with the manager of the hostel where free shots were served detained for questioning.

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[–] Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world 110 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Feel like this needs to be said. If they weren't pretty young blonde women from Australia, this wouldn't be hitting the headlines as much as it is

[–] Lev_Astov@lemmy.world 10 points 17 hours ago

Maybe we just consider it a sacrifice of a few beautiful people to help make things safer for the rest of us.

[–] gcheliotis@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Possibly. But why does this need to be said? How is it relevant here? What does it offer?

[–] Shanedino@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago

Tbf the middle photo is a bit of a paralysis demon.

[–] Cheradenine@sh.itjust.works 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes, this happens with some regularity. Usually during wedding season (dry season) and at large funerals. The reason it's in the news is what you said.

Search any of the local news sites for 'alcohol poisoning' in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and you will have a lot of results.

[–] Geobloke@lemm.ee 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why wouldn't the bbc and Australian media cover the deaths by misfortune of citizens from their home country

[–] Cheradenine@sh.itjust.works 0 points 15 hours ago

Well of course they would. It's just unusual that the victims weren't local.

[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

Also goes for stories covering children, too.

As an aside, I always wondered if the opposite rings true in countries where the minority is white. Ethnocentrism?