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, who declined to give his full name, 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 near the Tam Ting (Pak Ou) caves. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink.
The crew was reportedly unprepared for the situation, leading to confusion as the boat went down. Survivors remarked on the alarming lack of life jackets, estimating only around 15 were available for the passengers.
As the ferry capsized, passengers cried out for help to a passing boat that initially did not respond. Eventually, another vessel took them in, but when it approached, passengers shifted and caused further instability, exacerbating the drowning challenge.
In a terrifying turn of events, some passengers jumped to the rescue boat while others swam to safety. Yet amidst the evacuation, Anthonin witnessed desperate cries and the absence of several individuals from the rescue efforts.
In interviews post-rescue, passengers reported a mix of initial calm and later panic, highlighting how quickly the situation escalated. This tragic event underscores ongoing concerns about the safety standards on ferries operating in the region, which has seen similar accidents in the past. The situation leaves behind questions about accountability and the need for better maritime safety regulations in Laos.
Videos online show a scene of chaos - people screaming for help, children crying and passengers scrambling to get their belongings. Anthonin, who declined to give his full name, 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 near the Tam Ting (Pak Ou) caves. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink.
The crew was reportedly unprepared for the situation, leading to confusion as the boat went down. Survivors remarked on the alarming lack of life jackets, estimating only around 15 were available for the passengers.
As the ferry capsized, passengers cried out for help to a passing boat that initially did not respond. Eventually, another vessel took them in, but when it approached, passengers shifted and caused further instability, exacerbating the drowning challenge.
In a terrifying turn of events, some passengers jumped to the rescue boat while others swam to safety. Yet amidst the evacuation, Anthonin witnessed desperate cries and the absence of several individuals from the rescue efforts.
In interviews post-rescue, passengers reported a mix of initial calm and later panic, highlighting how quickly the situation escalated. This tragic event underscores ongoing concerns about the safety standards on ferries operating in the region, which has seen similar accidents in the past. The situation leaves behind questions about accountability and the need for better maritime safety regulations in Laos.
