Eight employees of a backpacker hostel in Laos have been detained for questioning after six foreign tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning.

T he death of six tourists visiting Laos is suspected to be the result of mass methanol poisoning, after all are believed to have consumed alcoholic drinks tainted with the toxic substance. With officials issuing fresh warnings about the dangers of ingesting methanol, here’s what you should know about what it is and how it affects the body.

British backpacker Tash Moore, 21, arrived in Laos just days after six people fell victim to a suspected mass methanol poisoning incident, but she says bar staff in Vang Vieng were still pouring free shots for tourists.

As some of their number succumbed to methanol poisoning, other guests at the Laotian hostel at the centre of the probe tried to warn others to stay away - and the hostel reportedly deleted their warning.

A third Australian has fallen ill after consuming methanol-laced alcohol in Laos. So far, six people have died and eight arrests have been made in what is suspected to be a mass methanol poisoning.

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 after consuming alcohol in the town of Vang Vieng,

The bodies of two Melbourne teenagers who died in Laos after suspected methanol poisoning have been returned home. Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were among six foreign tourists who died after drinking tainted cocktails.