Briton Simone White dies after suspected mass poisoning in Laos

Briton Simone White has died after a suspected methanol poisoning thought to have killed four others in Laos, south-east Asia.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”

It comes after Australian teen Bianca Jones’ death was confirmed by her family, and the US State Department told the media that an American man died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.

Two Danish women aged 19 and 20 also died last week in Laos, Danish authorities confirmed, declining to share more information due to confidentiality concerns.

News reports and testimonies on social media from other tourists have suggested they may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.

Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel with staff being told that guests had fallen ill after they failed to check out on 13 November.