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Police in Laos have detained the manager and seven other members of staff at a backpacker hostel following the deaths of six tourists from suspected methanol poisoning.<\/p>\n
The tourists – <\/b>two Australians, two Danes, an American and a British national – died earlier this month after apparently drinking tainted alcohol in the town of Vang Vieng. Several were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. <\/p>\n
It is unclear how many other people were taken ill. <\/p>\n
The deaths have cast a spotlight on the popular backpacking town and spooked tourists, especially women, as five of the six who died were female travellers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Several governments, including New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, have warned their citizens about drinking spirits in Laos.<\/p>\n
Last week, 19-year-old Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died days after being admitted to hospital in neighbouring Thailand. Theirs were the first deaths suspected to be caused by methanol, a toxic, flavourless and colourless substance commonly added to bootleg alcohol.<\/p>\n
Then Danish authorites reported the deaths of two women, aged 19 and 20, who had died in Vang Vieng earlier this month. A 57-year-old American man was also found dead in Vang Vieng. <\/p>\n
And last week, a 28-year-old London lawyer, Simone White, died after she was believed to have ingesed methanol. <\/p>\n
The owners of the Nana Backpackers hostel, which is now closed, had denied serving illicit alcohol. <\/p>\n
Some travellers in Vang Vieng are steering clear of the once-popular free shots and alcohol buckets offered to tourists, telling the BBC<\/a> that they felt concerned about their safety.<\/p>\n