Laotian police have detained the manager and owner of a hostel after five backpackers, including British lawyer Simone White, died of suspected methanol poisoning in the riverside party town of Van Vieng.
An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office said a “number of people” had been detained in the case, but no charges have been filed yet, with staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.
The development in the tragedies that have captured international attention follows the death of Ms White, a solicitor from Orpington in Kent, who became the fifth tourist to die following the incident in the Vang Vieng area.
The 28-year-old is believed to have died after she reportedly fell ill last week while staying in the backpacking hotspot with her friend Bethany Clarke, also from Orpington, who said she had been in hospital after the incident as well.
Ms White’s death comes after an Australian, an American and two Danes also passed away after being taken to hospital with suspected methanol poisoning.
Many of the victims were reportedly staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel. Details began emerging last week when some started falling ill after being served drinks as part of a group while in the remote town.
In a post on a Laos backpacking Facebook group on 16 November, which has since been deleted, Ms Clarke wrote: “Urgent – please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
“Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”
Methanol is sometimes used as the alcohol in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause severe poisoning or death. The NHS warns that as little as 4ml of methanol can cause visual hallucinations and blindness.
She reportedly added that she was treated at a private hospital where she underwent “many infusions” and spent days recovering. It’s not known if she is still in hospital.
On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the hostel told the Associated Press that staff were told by other guests that two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on 13 November. The hostel arranged transport to a hospital for them, he said.
According to The Times, Mr Toan said more than 100 guests had received free shots as a gesture of hospitality, but said that the alcohol was from a certified distributor and had not been tainted.
It is not known where the contaminated drinks were served, with Laos police now leading an investigation.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to British nationals and their families and are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Laos.”
Earlier, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being taken to a hospital in neighbouring Thailand. A friend of the teenager, called Holly Bowles, was “fighting her life”, Mr Albaese also told parliament.
New Zealand’s foreign ministry, with a Kiwi among those unwell, said there had been “several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks”.
Outside Bangkok Hospital, where Ms Bowles is in a critical condition, her father, Shane Bowles, thanked the public for their support while asking for privacy as he spent time with his daughter on the ward.
Ms Bowles played Aussie rules football with Ms Jones at Beaumaris Football Club. In a statement on its website, the club said: “The situation that occurred whilst both girls were travelling in southeast Asia is tragic and distressing.”
It continued: “Both Holly and Bianca have become cherished and highly respected members of the Beaumaris Sharks family.
