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, believed to be one of her children. Efforts to find a second child are ongoing.
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 popular with visitors. There were 118 tourists and 29 locals, including four crew, on board when it struck underwater rocks, according to an official report. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink.
'... it was really bad,' Anthonin recalled, noting the alarming lack of life jackets on board, with only about 15 available for over 140 passengers. As the boat continued to capsize, frantic passengers called for help from a passing boat, which did not stop. A subsequent ferry arrived, but the situation worsened as the rescue approach caused additional panic among passengers, shifting weight and accelerating the sinkage.
While many were rescued, Anthonin and other witnesses expressed concern over the fate of those who were still missing, particularly the children.
The incident has raised critical questions regarding the safety measures in place for ferry services on the Mekong, a route regularly used by thousands of tourists. This is not the first time such tragedies have occurred in the region, and calls for improved safety regulations are expected to follow the investigation into this latest disaster.
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, believed to be one of her children. Efforts to find a second child are ongoing.
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 popular with visitors. There were 118 tourists and 29 locals, including four crew, on board when it struck underwater rocks, according to an official report. Within minutes, the ferry began to sink.
'... it was really bad,' Anthonin recalled, noting the alarming lack of life jackets on board, with only about 15 available for over 140 passengers. As the boat continued to capsize, frantic passengers called for help from a passing boat, which did not stop. A subsequent ferry arrived, but the situation worsened as the rescue approach caused additional panic among passengers, shifting weight and accelerating the sinkage.
While many were rescued, Anthonin and other witnesses expressed concern over the fate of those who were still missing, particularly the children.
The incident has raised critical questions regarding the safety measures in place for ferry services on the Mekong, a route regularly used by thousands of tourists. This is not the first time such tragedies have occurred in the region, and calls for improved safety regulations are expected to follow the investigation into this latest disaster.
