Major development after six foreign tourists died of methanol poisoning at a backpacker hostel in Laos – as disturbing new claims emerge about staff

A number of workers from a backpacker hostel on the centre of a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, which claimed the lives of six overseas vacationers, have been arrested by police.

Eight workers, aged 23 to 47, from the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng are in custody following arrests by police on Monday, an area information website reported.

All of these detained are believed to be Vietnamese nationals. 

Melbourne youngsters Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, each aged 19, had been amongst six overseas vacationers who died final week after falling ailing.

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles had been evacuated to separate hospital in Thailand on November 13.

Ms Jones died surrounded by family members in Udon Thani hospital on Thursday and Ms Bowles died in close by Bangkok Hospital on Friday. 

Two younger Danish ladies, a British lawyer and an American man in his 50s additionally died from the contaminated drinks.

Native reviews counsel one other 12 overseas vacationers had been hospitalised after consuming on the Nana Backpacker Hostel.

Early testing indicated methanol was current in beer and spirits on the venue.

The information comes three days after the Laos Authorities broke its silence on the suspected mass poisoning. 

On Saturday, authorities vowed to ‘deliver the perpetrators to justice’ and stated they had been ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragedy.

‘The federal government of the Lao PDR is profoundly saddened over the lack of lives of overseas vacationers in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province and expresses its honest sympathy and deepest condolences to the households of the deceased,’ it stated.

‘The federal government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to search out causes of the incident and to deliver the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the regulation.

‘The federal government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it all the time attaches the significance and pays consideration to the security of each home and overseas vacationers.’

Allegations collected in a survey by a backpacker who was associates with the 2 deceased Danish ladies – Anne-Sofie Coyman, 20, and Freja Sorensen, 21, – claimed workers failed to assist the pair after they grew to become ailing.

A lady who claimed she’d helped the ladies after they started displaying indicators of methanol poisoning stated the hostel refused to name an ambulance for them, even when one among them started having a seizure.

Early testing indicated methanol was current in beer and spirits served on the Nana Backpacker Hostel (pictured)

Ms Jones (left) died surrounded by family members in Udon Thani hospital on Thursday and Ms Bowles (proper) died in close by Bangkok Hospital on Friday

A lady who claimed she helped the 2 deceased Danish ladies alleged workers on the hostel (pictured) refused to name them an ambulance

As an alternative, a feminine employee allegedly started massaging the seizing girl’s toes and toes whereas saying, ‘I am saving her, don’t be concerned’, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Workers additionally allegedly claimed Ms Coyman and Ms Sorensen had been struggling panic assaults, relatively than deadly poisoning.

The girl’s story contradicts the account shared by state-owned media that the Danish ladies had been discovered by workers on the ground of their toilet.

Extra to come back.