There have been more arrests over the methanol poisoning deaths of two young Australians in Laos. Eight Vietnamese staff members from the Nana Backpackers hostel in the tourist town of Vang Vieng were arrested last week and the hostel was shut down.

A factory owner has been arrested by police in a major breakthrough in the mass methanol poisoning in Laos that left six backpackers dead.

Police have arrested the owner of a factory in Laos thought to be the source of the methanol poisoning that killed six tourists – including a British woman. The plant, outside the capital Vientiane is believed to have made the Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey that they drank in the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng.

Staff from a backpacker hostel have been detained after six tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning after a night out.View on euronews

Three more staff members at the Nana Backpackers Hostel have been arrested following what is believed to be a mass methanol poisoning incident after the death of six people, including Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles.

The venue is situated outside the capital city Vientiane and is understood to have been making Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey.

Three more staff members from a hostel have been taken into custody after six tourists died from potentially tainted drinks.