Major development after six foreign tourists died of methanol poisoning at a backpackers hostel in Laos – as disturbing new claims about staff emerge
- Two Australians died after drinking at a hostel in Laos
- Eight employees have been arrested
Several employees of a backpacker hotel at the center of a suspected mass poisoning in Laos that killed six foreign tourists have been arrested by police.
Eight Nana Backpacker Hostel employees, aged between 23 and 47, are in custody after being arrested by Vang Vieng police on Monday, a local news site reported.
All those arrested are believed to be Vietnamese nationals.
Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, were among six foreign tourists who died last week after falling ill.
Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were evacuated to separate hospitals in Bangkok.
Two young Danish women, a British lawyer and an American man in his 50s also died from the contaminated drinks.
Local reports suggest another 12 foreign tourists have been hospitalized after drinking at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.
Early tests showed methanol was present in beer and spirits at the site.
There’s more to come.
