Ferry Capsizes on Mekong River Near Luang Prabang, Three Missing
A ferry traveling from Huay Xay to Luang Prabang capsized on the Mekong River after hitting underwater rocks. There were 151 people on board, including 118 tourists, 29 locals, and 4 crew members. The incident resulted in three people remaining missing, including a Lao mother and her two children. The body of a Lao woman, Pany Her, was found near Luang Prabang.
Life jackets were scarce on the ferry, with only about 15 available for all passengers. Rescue efforts were complicated; an initial passing boat did not stop, but a second rescue boat stopped and took survivors aboard. Some passengers reportedly shifted their weight towards the sinking side of the ferry, which accelerated flooding.
The Mekong route connecting Huay Xay, Pak Beng, and Luang Prabang spans approximately 300 kilometers and is popular, with tens of thousands of tourists using it annually. British tourist Bradley Cook shared his experience of the incident and said he plans to file insurance claims for damaged electronics and lost cash.
This incident comes months after a September 2023 event on the same river corridor that left three people dead.
