Eight arrests in Laos over suspected mass methanol poisoning

Police in Laos have arrested eight people over a suspected mass methanol poisoning that killed six people earlier this month.

A British woman, two Australian teenagers, an American and two Danes died last week after drinking tainted alcohol at the NANA Backpackers Hostel in the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng.

Simone White, 28, a lawyer who lived in Orpington, Kent, was named by the Foreign Office as one of the victims.

Eight men – aged between 28 and 44 – have now been arrested and remain in custody.

Among those arrested is the hostel manager, Mr Yeungvanhoun, 34, who previously denied any wrongdoing.

Referring to the two Australian women – Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles – who were among the dead, he told the Associated Press that staff were told by other guests that two women were unwell after failing to check out as planned. The hostel arranged transport to a hospital for them.

Mr Yeungvanhoun added that two days before check-out, the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka, offered by the hostel as a gesture of hospitality.

He said no other guests had reported any problems, adding that the women then went out for the evening and returned in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Yeungvanhoun told Australian broadcaster ABC: “I really take care of all the customers (who) stay in our hotel and hostel.”

The other men have been named by police as:

• Mr Hngieng Manhoung, 38
• Mr Bouyvandat, 35
• Mr. Pharm Doungjin, 42
• Mr Jikkouk Toun, 23
• Mr Yeungduktun, 47
• Mr Hngiengsuieng, 28
• Mr Kuang Chung, 44

Details about the number of tourists affected and the possible source of the methanol-containing drinks are unclear.

Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks in notorious bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but it can cause serious poisoning or death.

It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled, home-brewed alcohol.

The Laotian government officially recognized the mass poisoning on Saturday and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims.

In a brief statement to the media, the Lao government said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives of foreign tourists.”

Added: “The government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has conducted investigations to determine the causes of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.”

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