An American citizen has died at a popular adventure spot in Laos where alcohol tainted with methanol has been blamed for a spate of poisonings in recent days. The State Department said the U.S. citizen died in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers to the north of the South East Asian country’s capital. Citing confidentiality, it would not comment when asked whether they died of methanol poisoning. One of South East Asia’s poorest countries, authorities in Laos have long cautioned foreign travelers about tainted drinks at nightclubs and bars. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpack hostel displays a bottle of vodka at his bar in Vang Vieng, Laos, on Tuesday.

---

Persons: ”, Anthony Albanese, Bianca Jones, Holly Bowles, “, ” Albanese, Bowles, Jones, Vang Vieng, Nana Backpacker, Duong Duc Toan, Nana, Anupam Nath, Penny Wong Organizations: State Department, South East, NBC, Australian, Associated Press, NBC News, AP Locations: American, Laos, Vang Vieng, “, Thailand, Vang, Thailand’s Bangkok, ”, East, Australia, New Zealand