Death toll in Laos methanol poisoning incident climbs to six ...

More than a hundred people have gathered in Melbourne's south at a vigil following the deaths of teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones.

The two girls died in Thai hospitals following a mass methanol poisoning incident while on holiday in the south-east Asian country of Laos.

Beaumaris Football Club players, coaches, club officials and community leaders gathered in Beaumaris last night to pay their respects to Ms Bowles and Ms Jones. 

The two 19-year-olds played football at the club and the 2022 premiership flag they won was flown at half mast.

The Beaumaris Football Club held a vigil for Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones. (Supplied: Beaumaris Football Club)

Club president Nick Heath said during the gathering of senior players, news of Holly's death came through. 

"As a sign of solidarity and unity, and in memory of both Holly and Bianca, our women’s team have started tying blue and yellow ribbons in and around their homes, and throughout our community," the club said in a statement.

"Their impact on all of us will forever be remembered with a deep sense of gratitude, primarily due to their generosity of spirit and their innate ability to unite people."

Members of the community have tied ribbons around the neighbourhood in memory of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles. (Instagram: beaumarisfootballclub)

The club said Ms Bowles' number 32 jumper, which she wore in her first senior season this year, would be retired until further notice.

Ms Bowles had been on life support in a Bangkok hospital during the week, with her family attending at her bedside.

Her death was announced on Friday evening, about a day after the news of her friend Bianca Jones's death.

Flowers laid in tribute to Holly Bowles. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortonlan)

Frank's, the Cheltenham cafe where Holly Bowles was employed, posted a heartfelt tribute to Instagram following her death. 

Holly Bowles worked at a cafe in Cheltenham to save up for her holiday. (Instagram: franksmelbourne)

Ms Bowles had worked at the cafe for two-and-a-half years, using the job to save up for her South East Asian holiday with Ms Jones.

"Holly was the best of us. She was sweet, incredibly kind, reliable, funny, diligent, hardworking and extremely capable. Believe me when I say that I couldn’t fault her," cafe owner Harry said in the post. 

"To Holly. I’m just so thankful you walked through our door with a resume, kid. I’ll never forget you, mate."

The cafe in south-east Melbourne where Holly Bowles worked for two-and-a-half years was closed on Saturday following the news of her death.  (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)

On Saturday, the Beaumaris Cricket Club, which also calls Banksia Reserve home, observed a minute of silence, with the visiting team, St Brigid's St Louis, wearing black arm bands out of respect.

Beaumaris and St Brigid's St Louis cricket teams observe a minute of silence ahead of Saturday's match.  (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)

Federal MP Zoe Daniel, who represents the community Ms Bowles and Ms Jones were from, attended the Friday night gathering and said it was a simple affair, allowing the girls' friends to grieve.

"It's just having an enormous impact on the community," Ms Daniel said.

She said the close-knit culture of the Beaumaris area — where schools and sporting clubs are heavily intertwined — was an asset. 

Ms Daniel said her priorities, along with state MP Brad Rowswell, were to offer support to the Jones and Bowles families, to support people who knew the girls and, in the longer term, to engage with the government of Laos to improve tourist safety.

In a post on X, Victorian premier Jacinta Allan expressed her condolences to their victim's families.

"This is just devastating. It's the news we were dreading. The update we hoped wouldn't come," she said.

"Tonight we're thinking of everyone who loved Holly and Bianca."

A flag flying at half mast at Beaumaris Football Club in tribute to Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)

The death toll from the incident in Vang Vieng now stands at six, following the deaths of Ms Bowles and Ms Jones.

Simone White, a 28-year-old British lawyer, was confirmed by the UK government to have also died from ingesting methanol.

"Simone was one-of-a-kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life," her parents said in a statement.

"She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues."

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed the death of British woman Simone White, 28, in Laos. (Facebook)

In a statement, the law firm where she worked said Ms White was a talented colleague with a bright future who would be sincerely missed.

Two Danish women and an American man have also died.

The owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel where the Australians were staying and where they started their night with free drinks has been detained for questioning by police in Laos.

The Associated Press reports that an officer at Vang Vieng's Tourism Police office said a "number of people" have been detained, but no charges have yet been filed. 

The owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the two women stayed, has been detained. (Facebook: Nana Backpacker Hostel)

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the federal government would "continue to support Holly and Bianca's families, just as we will continue our efforts with local authorities on investigations into this tragedy".

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its travel advice for Laos following the methanol poisonings, telling travellers to "be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks, including cocktails" in the country.