Laos hostel staff detained after suspected methanol deaths

Police successful Laos person detained the manager and 7 different members of unit astatine a backpacker hostel pursuing the deaths of six tourists from suspected methanol poisoning.

The tourists - two Australians, 2 Danes, an American and a British nationalist - died earlier this period aft seemingly drinking tainted intoxicant successful the municipality of Vang Vieng. Several were staying astatine the Nana Backpacker Hostel.

It is unclear however galore different radical were taken ill.

The deaths person formed a spotlight connected the fashionable backpacking municipality and spooked tourists, particularly women, arsenic 5 of the six who died were pistillate travellers.

Several governments, including New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, person warned their citizens astir drinking spirits successful Laos.

Last week, 19-year-old Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died days aft being admitted to infirmary successful neighbouring Thailand. Theirs were the archetypal deaths suspected to beryllium caused by methanol, a toxic, flavourless and colourless substance commonly added to bootleg alcohol.

• What is methanol and however does it impact the body?

Then Danish authorites reported the deaths of 2 women, aged 19 and 20, who had died successful Vang Vieng earlier this month. A 57-year-old American antheral was besides recovered dormant successful Vang Vieng.

And past week, a 28-year-old London lawyer, Simone White, died aft she was believed to person ingesed methanol.

The owners of the Nana Backpackers hostel, which is present closed, had denied serving illicit alcohol.

Some travellers successful Vang Vieng are steering wide of the once-popular escaped shots and intoxicant buckets offered to tourists, telling the BBC that they felt acrophobic astir their safety.

Methanol poisoning is the most prevalent successful Asia, mostly affecting poorer communities and places with anemic nutrient regulations and enforcement.

A New Zealander who had fallen sick from suspected methanol poisoning successful the state has present returned home, authorities person confirmed.