A suspected mass methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos, has claimed the lives of six foreign tourists. The casualties include 28-year-old British national Simone White, 19-year-old Australian friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles,

Officials arrested eight hostel workers in Laos on Monday for allegedly poisoning travelers with methanol, according to reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corp.  Tourists reported illnesses

Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, was one of a number of people taken to hospital after the incident in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week

Holly Bowles, 19, is one of six tourists who have died in Laos from what is believed to be methanol poisoning. She passed away on Friday, the day after her 19-year-old friend Bianca Jones passed away in a Thai hospital.

Six tourists from Australia, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom died in Laos due to methanol poisoning. In response to these tragic events, the country's authorities banned the sale and consumption of a specific brand of vodka and whiskey.

Six tourists from Australia, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom have died in Laos due to methanol poisoning. In response to these tragic events, Lao authorities have banned the sale and consumption of vodka and whiskey from a specific brand.