Eight Vietnamese staff members of a backpacker hostel, including the manager, in Vang Vieng Town, Laos have been in police custody following the deaths of six international tourists from suspected methanol poisoning, according to Laotian media.

On Tuesday, police detained the 34-year-old manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel and seven other employees for interrogation, all of whom are Vietnamese nationals, according to Laos Post.

The arrest came after two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton, and two Australians died on November 12 after drinking alcohol suspected to be contaminated with methanol.

According to The Telegraph, all victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, and their deaths have been associated with the guesthouse and nearby watering hole, Jaidee Bar.

Nana Backpacker Hostel has been temporarily closed, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death, with authorities working to identify whether contaminated drinks were the sole factor involved.

Last Saturday, the Laotian government expressed their sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, confirming investigations were underway to find the cause of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Following the lethal incident, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Canada, and the U.S. have reminded their citizens to beware of methanol poisoning when drinking alcohol in Laos, CNN reported.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), methanol, which is tasteless and odorless, is a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source.

It can take up to 24 hours for symptoms to appear, which can range from dizziness, nausea, and vomiting to blindness, organ failure, and brain damage, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders, which tracks global cases of methanol poisoning.

Doctors Without Borders warns rapid treatment (within 10-30 hours) can reduce some of the effects of methanol poisoning but without it, the fatality rates are 20-40 percent, depending on the concentration of the methanol and the amount ingested.

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