It was supposed to be just another Thursday in Laos, where Anthonin's father was born. Instead, the 30-year-old French citizen found himself among more than 140 people, mostly tourists, on a ferry that capsized in the Mekong River. All but three are thought to have made it to safety. Videos online show a scene of chaos - people screaming for help, children crying and passengers scrambling to get their belongings. Anthonin recalls seeing a mother and her two children on board the ferry - but they were nowhere to be seen on the rescue boat. On Monday, Lao media reported that the body of a woman, named Pany Her, had been retrieved from the river. Rescuers then found the body of a one-year-old, who they believe was one of her children. Efforts to find a second child are continuing.
The boat was making its way last Thursday from the riverside town of Huay Xay to the historic city of Luang Prabang in northern Laos, a common route along the Mekong - and popular with visitors to the country. There were 118 tourists and 29 locals, including four crew, on board the boat when it struck underwater rocks, according to an official report. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink.
The crew appeared unprepared for the crisis, leading to confusion and chaos as passengers yelled for help. Anthonin noted a shocking lack of safety equipment, recalling only about 15 lifejackets on board. As the ferry tipped, passengers called to nearby vessels for assistance; however, the initial boat passing them chose not to stop. Eventually, another boat arrived to aide in the rescue but inadvertently added to the panic as shifting passengers compromised the ferry's stability further.
Survivors like British tourist Bradley Cook described the experience as terrifying, and shared their frustrations over the incident, which has raised questions about safety protocols aboard such vessels in the region. With a history of accidents on this busy river route, the community and tourists alike are advocating for enhanced safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The boat was making its way last Thursday from the riverside town of Huay Xay to the historic city of Luang Prabang in northern Laos, a common route along the Mekong - and popular with visitors to the country. There were 118 tourists and 29 locals, including four crew, on board the boat when it struck underwater rocks, according to an official report. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink.
The crew appeared unprepared for the crisis, leading to confusion and chaos as passengers yelled for help. Anthonin noted a shocking lack of safety equipment, recalling only about 15 lifejackets on board. As the ferry tipped, passengers called to nearby vessels for assistance; however, the initial boat passing them chose not to stop. Eventually, another boat arrived to aide in the rescue but inadvertently added to the panic as shifting passengers compromised the ferry's stability further.
Survivors like British tourist Bradley Cook described the experience as terrifying, and shared their frustrations over the incident, which has raised questions about safety protocols aboard such vessels in the region. With a history of accidents on this busy river route, the community and tourists alike are advocating for enhanced safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
