Panic and Desperation as Ferry Capsizes in Mekong River, Laos

Wed Dec 24 2025 03:30:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A tragic incident occurred in Laos when a tourist ferry capsized in the Mekong River, resulting in multiple fatalities and chaos among the passengers. Eyewitness accounts highlight the terrifying moments of the disaster as rescue efforts unfold.

A ferry carrying over 140 people capsized in the Mekong River, leading to chaos and panic. Eyewitnesses reported screams for help as rescuers worked frantically to save passengers. Tragically, some bodies, including that of a child, have been recovered, while others remain missing. The incident raises questions about safety measures aboard tourist vessels.

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.

By Monday, Lao media reported that the body of a woman named Pany Her had been rescued from the river. Tragically, rescuers later found the body of a one-year-old, believed to be one of her children. Efforts to locate a second child continue.

The ferry was en route from Huay Xay to Luang Prabang when it struck underwater rocks near the Tam Ting caves. Within minutes, the boat began to sink. Anthonin described the scene: The crew were just totally unprepared for that. There was a lot of confusion... it happened really, really fast. Of particular concern was the lack of life jackets – with only 15 available for over 140 passengers.

As the ferry capsized, passengers shouted for help from a passing boat. The initial vessel didn't stop, possibly due to its small size, but another rescue boat did assist. British tourist Bradley Cook reported that the attempts to rescue created further chaos, as shifting weight caused the ferry to sink faster.

Some passengers managed to climb onto the rescue boat, while others swam to safety. Anthonin was involved in retrieving luggage when he noted the absence of a mother and her children – a haunting realization that left him deeply affected. Some people were crying, panicking. It was a mess, he recalled.

Another passenger, Gabrielius Baranovičius, shifted from joking about the incident to immediate action as the gravity of the situation set in; he stopped filming to help others in the water.

This incident underscores the dangers faced by countless tourists who frequent the Mekong River routes each year. In a similar prior event, a passenger boat capsized in September 2023, resulting in three fatalities. As the investigation into this latest disaster unfolds, victims and their families seek answers amidst their grief and trauma.