The deaths of six foreign tourists linked to a suspected mass methanol poisoning has thrown a spotlight on a small town in Southeast Asia that has worked hard in recent years to shed its reputation for excess.

The Laos government expressed profound sorrow on Saturday following the tragic deaths of six foreign tourists in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination. The fatalities, suspected to be caused by

Australian teenager Bianca Jones has become the fourth tourist to die in what is suspected to be a methanol mass poisoning incident in Laos.

An Australian teenager has become the sixth foreign tourist to die in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos, as a growing list of countries warned of the potentially fatal consequences of drinking tainted alcohol in the Southeast Asian country.

Alcohol tainted with methanol is suspected to be the cause of death of four foreign tourists at the popular backpacker destination of Vang Vieng in Laos.

At least six tourists who traveled to Laos have died in recent days, prompting international alarm about the dangers of consuming alcoholic drinks that contain methanol.

The U.S., Australia and U.K. have issued warnings for travelers in Vang Vieng after several tourists died in a suspected methanol poisoning outbreak.