Police have reportedly arrested the owner of a backpacker hostel where a group of tourists were staying before five of them died in a case of suspected poisoning.
British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, died on Thursday after falling ill from drinking free shots mixed with methanol while in Laos, South-east Asia.
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Local police have arrested the boss of the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the popular tourist area of Vang Vieng for questioning, ABC reported.
The police are yet to name the owner or give an official comment on the development.
It was at the hostel's bar where holidaymakers were offered free drinks, which were suspected to have made them sick.
The venue told ABC that drinks were not served at its bar.
A total of five people have died since drinking last week, including a 19-year-old Melbourne woman called Bianca Jones.
Her friend Holly Bowles, also 19, is seriously ill and needs life support in a Bangkok hospital in Thailand.
Two Danish women in their twenties and an American man, whose identities were not revealed, also died.
About a dozen other people, including Britons, are believed to have become seriously ill.
Police are still investigating the horrific incident, as online reports and testimonies from fellow tourists indicate that those affected drank drinks contaminated with methanol.
Methanol is a toxic substance often found in illicit alcohol or used in industrial products such as paint thinners, antifreeze, varnish, or copier fluid.
Six of us who drank from the same place are currently in the hospital due to methanol poisoning
Bethany Clark
Thai police spoke to Reuters after the death of Australian teenager Bianca, confirming on Thursday that she died of “methanol poisoning”.
An official said: “The doctor who examined her said the cause of death was methanol poisoning from fake alcoholic beverages.
He added, “The amount of methanol in her body was high, which led to swelling of the brain.”
Bianca's devastated family previously said she had been on a “dream trip with her best friend Holly”.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones,” they told Australia's Herald Sun newspaper on Thursday.
“She was surrounded by love, and we take comfort in knowing that her amazing spirit touched the lives of so many during her time with us.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous support, love and prayers we have received from all over Australia.”
Simone's friend, Bethany Clarke – who is also in hospital – raised the alarm with an urgent warning on the Laos Backpacking Facebook group last week.
“Urgent – please avoid all local spirits,” she wrote. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and drank free shots provided by a bar.
“Just avoid it because it's not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are currently in the hospital with methanol poisoning.”
Bethany added that she “was very tired and then she passed out, then I felt nauseous and then my liver started to stop working.”
She continued: “I arrived at the private hospital in time, but underwent many injections, pills, and days of recovery.”
Laos horror: who died after suspected methanol poisoning?
By Eli Doty, Foreign News Correspondent
Four women and a man have died after suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, Southeast Asia.
Two of the women, in their twenties, were coming from Denmark.
Bianca Jones, 19, was traveling with her friend Holly from Australia.
The fourth victim is British Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from Kent.
A man from the United States, believed to be in his fifties, also died.
Bianca and Holly, from Melbourne, were on a “dream trip” together when they fell ill, her family said this week.
Both girls were taken to hospital where Holly is still fighting for her life in a critical condition.
Bianca's loved ones flew to be at her bedside and were with her when she died on Thursday.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it supports Simon's family.
A spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Laos, and are in contact with local authorities.”
A statement issued by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can confirm the death of two Danish citizens in Laos. For reasons of confidentiality in personal matters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no further comments.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday after Bianca's death: “This is every parent's worst fear and a nightmare no one should have to endure.”
“All Australians offer them our deepest sympathies at this sad time.”
“We also take this moment to say that we are thinking of Bianca's friend Holly Bowles who is fighting for her life,” Albanese added.
“It's very difficult when you're so far away,” Holly's uncle Dale told the ABC.
“There's just a sick feeling in your stomach that won't go away.
“It's just a daily operation at the moment. At this point… all we can ask her to do is keep fighting,” he added.
He said Holly's family is holding a bedside vigil as she fights for her life in a Thai hospital.
The governments of Australia and Britain have previously warned travelers to be careful when consuming alcoholic beverages in Laos.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website that methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, insecticide, and fuel source.
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