Three Europeans among six killed by suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

Two Danes and a Briton are among six tourists to die from suspected methanol poisoning of alcoholic drinks in Laos.

British media reported on Thursday that 28-year-old Simone White, a lawyer from southeast London, was among the tourists who died after consuming drinks laced with methanol, a toxic form of alcohol.

Two Australian tourists and an American have also died.

The Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, where Australian media said the two Australian women were staying, has been detained for questioning, according to the Laos tourist police.

Counterfeits of well-known alcohol brands and home-made spirits are a problem in Laos. Australia, the U.S. and UK have warned their citizens to be cautious when consuming drinks there.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be added to liquor to increase its potency, but can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

The six died after visiting Vang Vieng, an idyllic town in the Southeast Asian nation that is popular with foreign backpackers. They were part of a group of about a dozen tourists who became ill after going out on November 12, according to media reports.

Lao state-run news agency KPL said on Friday that authorities were gathering evidence and witness accounts following the foreigners' deaths due to suspected "consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages." 

Denmark's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday that two Danish citizens had died in Laos, without providing further information.

The U.S. State Department also confirmed the "death of a US citizen in Vang Vieng, Laos," and said it was "closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance."

The U.S. embassy in Laos issued a warning for its citizens to be on the alert for risks of methanol poisoning in consuming spirit-based drinks, advising them to buy from licensed vendors and check for signs of tampering or counterfeiting.

The Facebook and Instagram pages of the hostel had been deactivated as of Thursday and it was no longer taking bookings on websites.

Vang Vieng was once synonymous with backpackers behaving badly at jungle parties and has since re-branded as an eco-tourism destination.