It was described as a "terrifying sense of deja vu".
Six people — four Australians — becoming critically ill and hospitalised over the weekend after drinking a cocktail in tropical Fiji — bringing back memories of the that killed Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles.
For the Australians in Fiji, it should have been a beautiful holiday to end the year — instead, it turned into "a nightmare".
Two of the Australians involved returned home to Sydney last night and two people, an Australian and a Fijian, remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
But with the toxicology report yet to confirm the cause and police, health authorities and the hotel still "investigating", what do we know?
What actually happened?
On Saturday afternoon the six people involved (early reports suggested it was seven people poisoned) drank pina coladas at the five-star Warwick Resort bar.
The drink was reportedly a "pre-packaged" pina colada, but it is not clear if that was imported or a local blend.
[Map Fiji hotel]After drinking the cocktail the group became violently ill. At least two people had serious, life-threatening seizures and the group was rushed to a nearby clinic.
The group were later taken to Lautoka Hospital north of Fiji's tourist hub of Nadi.
The ABC understands one person was under constant surveillance in hospital on Sunday in the intensive care unit.
People at a different bar at the Warwick drinking the same cocktail at the same time told the ABC they were "fine".
One Australian and a Fijian remain in hospital in Fiji, but it's understood they could be released as soon as today.
Was it methanol poisoning?
We don't know yet. The comparisons between what happened in Laos and Fiji are easy to make.
But no-one knows for certain — not even Fijian authorities — and we can't be certain until the toxicology report comes back.
That is expected within 24-48 hours, with the samples being tested in Fiji's capital Suva today. Australian authorities in Fiji have offered assistance to help with the toxicology if required.
The Australian government updated its traveller advice for Fiji on Sunday, warning of "drink spiking and methanol poisoning".
But yesterday, Fiji's Tourism Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said he "doesn't believe it possible" that methanol poisoning would happen at a five-star resort in Fiji.
The ABC heard on-the-ground speculation that "outside drinks" brought into the Warwick Resort may have been a cause — but this has not been confirmed. Mr Gavoka told the ABC's 7.30 program last night that the rum in the drinks was "local".
There has also been speculation that the ingredients in the pina coladas, such as the pineapple or coconut, may have been tainted — again, we don't know yet.
What are Fijian authorities saying?
The police and health authorities say they are still investigating.
Yesterday Mr Gavoka said the investigation was "progressing".
He said the bartender involved had 16 years' experience and they were "really determined" to find out the cause.
What is the hotel saying?
Not much.
Warwick Resort says with investigations underway, it can't confirm yet what actually happened.
Mereisi Makutu, the resort's front office manager, said police and health officials have been investigating at the resort.
She said the resort provided an update to the office of Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and was helping guests who were in hospital.
Behind the scenes, the resort is in damage control and scrambling to find out what happened.
The ABC spoke to one guest (most people were not keen to talk).
She said she had been visiting the hotel for years, was "shocked" to hear what happened, and couldn't understand how it would happen.
She said she was drinking the same cocktail at the same time — just at a different bar at the resort — and didn't get sick.
The resort has been a staple of Fiji's tourism scene for decades and is well-known across the country as one of its best.
Warwick has resorts all over the world.
Is Fiji safe?
Tourism is Fiji's lifeblood. And this has been a major shock to everyone in the industry, and the country in general.
Just short of a million people visit the country every year, including almost half a million Australians.
"It is the first time this has ever happened," Mr Gavoka said.
"I'm quite disturbed that this has happened, but we really need to get to the bottom of this."
Mr Gavoka admitted it would undoubtedly have an impact on the industry and "the damage control is in place now".
He said authorities were reportedly working as quickly as possible to determine the cause.
"Every operation in Fiji observes international standards," Mr Gavoka said.
Mr Gavoka said "Fiji is safe" but later admitted that until the cause of the poisoning was known he could not give a 100 per cent guarantee.
"But going by the experience [in Fiji], this is a very isolated case. The majority of visitors enjoy Fiji and our food and beverage is of high quality."
