Laos says it cannot determine the cause of death or assign responsibility for the 2024 deaths of six tourists previously linked to methanol-tainted alcohol. The Bangkok Post and BBC report that officials are unable to establish blame because no autopsies were carried out, and therefore evidence of poisoning has not been confirmed. Laos also says it cannot conclude the cause of death when forensic testing is incomplete.
Additional coverage cited across news summaries indicates that Laos has moved to pursue accountability through legal processes. While BBC and other outlets reference charges announced against individuals connected to methanol poisoning, Laos’s position in its public defence remains that the death causes cannot be verified without autopsy findings. The Daily Mail similarly reports that, despite the deaths being associated with methanol-tainted drinks, the lack of autopsies prevents officials from determining cause and blame.
Officials also state that families’ decisions contributed to the absence of autopsies, according to the Bangkok Post. Authorities therefore cite limited medical evidence as the reason they cannot make definitive determinations about poisoning in the specific cases.
