The families of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, two 19-year-old Australians who tragically died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, have welcomed the news that eight individuals have been detained in connection with the incident. The teenagers were among six foreign tourists who succumbed to the lethal effects of methanol, a toxic substance commonly used in bootleg alcohol.

The young women’s bodies were flown back to Melbourne on Tuesday, where they were met by their grieving families. Their fathers have expressed relief at the progress of the investigation and called for further action from the Lao authorities. "We miss our daughters desperately," said Mark Jones, Bianca’s father, adding that the families would continue to raise awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning.

The eight detainees, all staff members of the Nana Backpackers hostel, where the victims had been staying, were taken into custody as part of an ongoing investigation. Although the hostel owners have denied serving illicit alcohol, early testing of the drinks consumed by the tourists indicated the presence of methanol. Meanwhile, local police continue to question individuals, including the hostel’s manager, as the investigation into the deaths unfolds.

The other victims, whose identities have been confirmed, include UK lawyer Simone White, American James Louis Hutson, and Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman and Freja Vennervald Sorensen. The authorities have yet to determine the full extent of the incident, and further cases of poisoning are under investigation.