Tragedy Strikes as Tourists Rescued from Capsized Ferry in Laos

Wed Dec 24 2025 03:11:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A chaotic scene unfolds as over 140 passengers, including many tourists, are rescued from a ferry that capsized in the Mekong River, resulting in confirmed fatalities and numerous missing persons.

On a devastating Thursday afternoon, a ferry carrying over 140 passengers capsized in the Mekong River, leaving behind a scene of panic and screams for help. Rescuers managed to save most of the passengers, but tragically, a woman and her one-year-old child have been reported dead. The ferry, which had only 15 lifejackets on board, began to sink after hitting underwater rocks, highlighting serious safety concerns within Laos’ transport system.

Tragedy Strikes as Tourists Rescued from Capsized Ferry in Laos

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 from the riverside town of Huay Xay to the historic city of Luang Prabang when it struck underwater rocks, according to an official report. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink, and witnesses report that there were only around 15 lifejackets available on board, leading to confusion and panic as passengers attempted to get to safety.

Passengers shouted to a passing boat for help, but it didn’t stop. Anthonin, along with other lucky passengers, managed to escape onto a rescue ferry, but the ordeal left many affected and questioning the safety protocols and preparedness of the ferry service.

British tourist Bradley Cook shared that the event was terrifying, prompting him to consider submitting insurance claims. This incident raises concerns over the safety measures taken on ferries in Laos, marking it not the first such tragedy, with another sinking reported earlier this year.