Australian teen becomes fourth tourist to die of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

Australian teen Bianca Jones has become the fourth tourist to have died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos.

The 19-year-old's family confirmed her death to the media on Thursday. Hours earlier, the US State Department told the media that an American man died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, also died last week in Laos, authorities confirmed, while Jones' friend Holly Bowles and a British woman are reportedly on life support in hospital.

The deaths remain under police investigation, but news reports and testimonies from fellow tourists suggest they may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Department of Foreign Affairs had confirmed Ms Jones's death.

"Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss," Albanese said on Thursday afternoon.

"This is every parent's very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure."

He said he hoped Ms Bowles, who is currently at Bangkok Hospital, would recover well.

The US State Department said it was "closely monitoring" the situation with regards to the American victim, adding that it was up to local authorities to determine the cause of death.

Australian and UK authorities have each warned their citizens to be careful of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.

Unlike ethanol, the key component of alcoholic beverages, methanol is toxic to humans. Bootleg liquor producers sometimes add it to their drinks, however, as a cheap way to increase alcohol content.

Earlier this year, at least 57 people in India died after consuming methanol-laced liquor. Similar cases of mass poisoning have also been reported across the world, from the Philippines to Peru.

Vang Vieng is a small riverside town in central Laos, and a hub for backpackers in Southeast Asia.

News.Az