Eight hostel workers arrested after six tourists died from ‘methanol poisoning’ while on holiday

Eight arrests have been made at the hostel where tourists were staying

Eight people who worked at a hostel in Laos have been arrested after six tourists died of suspected methanol poisoning.

Metro reports that members of staff from the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng have been arrested, but no charges have yet been brought.

The six individuals killed have since been identified as 28-year-old British national Simone White, Australian friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, 57-year-old American tourist James Louis Hutson and Danish friends Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.

The manager and owner of the hostel were previously taken in for questioning following the suspected methanol poisoning incident.

Authorities in Laos shared their ‘deepest condolences’ with the families of those who had died and promised they would ‘bring the perpetrators to justice’.

The hostel where tourists were staying and had been offered free alcohol shots before their night out. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

“The government of the Lao PDR is profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province and expresses its sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” police said in a statement.

“The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.

“The government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it always attaches the importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.”

The hostel offered free vodka shots to over 100 guests before they ventured off for a night out in Vang Vieng on 11 November, though hostel manager Duong Duc Toan claimed that other guests did not complain about feeling unwell.

Methanol is sometimes mixed into cheap alcohol, though even very small doses can cause blindness while a shot glass worth of the poisonous substance can be fatal to humans.

British woman Simone White, 28, is one of the six victims of a suspected methanol poisoning incident. (PA)

The exact location of where the suspected tainted drinks were served has not been confirmed.

What is known is that the hostel served free vodka shots on 11 November and two days later staff were told that women staying there were unwell after they failed to check out as planned.

The family of Simone White, a British lawyer who is among the six who died, said in a statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone.

“Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life.

“She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.

“Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family.

“Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”