Six people are so far dead, with the cause suspected as methanol-tainted drinks in the town of Vang Vieng, Laos.

Counterfeits of well-known alcohol brands and home-made spirits are a common problem in the gap year destination

A second Australian teen who fell critically ill from a mass methanol poisoning in Laos last week has died in a Thailand hospital. The family of Holly Bowles delivered the devastating update on Friday, just a day after her best friend Bianca Jones passed away surrounded by loved ones.