Major improvement after six overseas vacationers died of methanol poisoning at a backpacker hostel in Laos – as disturbing new claims emerge about employees

Multiple staff from a backpacker hostel at the centre of a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, which claimed the lives of six foreign tourists, have been arrested by police.

Eight employees, aged 23 to 47, from the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng are in custody following arrests by police on Monday, a local news site reported.

All of those detained 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 hospital in Thailand on November 13.

Ms Jones died surrounded by loved ones in Udon Thani hospital on Thursday and Ms Bowles died in nearby Bangkok Hospital on Friday. 

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 were hospitalised after drinking at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.

Early testing indicated methanol was present in beer and spirits at the venue.

The news comes three days after the Laos Government broke its silence on the suspected mass poisoning. 

On Saturday, authorities vowed to ‘bring the perpetrators to justice’ and said they were ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragedy.

‘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,’ it said.

‘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.’

More to come.