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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Petra Stock and Associated Press

UNBELIEVABLE: Australia updates travel advice for laos as charges announced over mass methanol poisoning | History Defined

Laos Australia Bianca Jones Holly MortonBowles Lars Løkke Rasmussen Michelle Jones Penny Wong
Australia Laos Tourists Poisoned. In this image made from video Michelle Jones, right, holds a photo of her daughter, Bianca, as Michelle and her husband Mark Jones appear on a news program in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, July 17, 2026. (Australian Broadcasting Corp via AP)
Mark and Michelle Jones discuss the deaths of their daughter, Bianca, and Holly Morton-Bowles. Photograph: ABC/Australian Broadcasting Corp/AP

The Australian government has increased its travel alert level for Laos, advising travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the risk of methanol poisoning.

It comes as a distillery owner in Laos was charged after a mass methanol poisoning incident killed six foreign nationals, including the Australian backpackers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles.

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