What was meant to be a calm, postcard-perfect journey along the Mekong River turned into pure chaos when a ferry carrying more than 140 people capsized in northern Laos, sparking panic, desperate cries for help, and a race for survival.
The ferry was travelling last Thursday from Huay Xay to the historic city of Luang Prabang — a route heavily used by tourists exploring Laos by river. On board were 118 tourists and 29 locals, including crew members. According to official reports, the boat struck underwater rocks and began sinking within minutes.
Survivors describe a scene that unraveled fast and violently. Videos circulating online capture passengers screaming, children crying, and people scrambling to save themselves and their belongings as water rushed in. Confusion took over as the ferry tilted, with little time to react.
One of the passengers, a 30-year-old French tourist named Anthonin, said the crew appeared completely unprepared for the emergency. He revealed that there were shockingly few safety resources available — estimating that there were only about 15 life jackets for everyone on board. As the ferry continued to sink, passengers shouted at a nearby boat for help, but it passed by, possibly because it was too small to assist safely.
A second boat eventually stopped, but even that rescue attempt briefly worsened the situation. As people rushed toward one side of the sinking ferry to reach safety, the imbalance caused water to flood the hull faster. Some passengers climbed onto the roof of the ferry and jumped across, while others swam, clung to rails, and were pulled aboard by fellow survivors.
Most people managed to escape, but not all.
Anthonin recalled seeing a Lao mother and her two young children moments before he was rescued. When he reached the rescue boat, they were nowhere to be found. His relief at surviving was overshadowed by the fear for those missing.
Days later, Lao media confirmed the recovery of a woman, identified as Pany Her, and the body of a one-year-old child believed to be one of hers. Search efforts for the second child are still ongoing.
Other passengers echoed the trauma. A 27-year-old British tourist, Bradley Cook, described the experience as terrifying, saying it left him eager to leave Luang Prabang despite the kindness of locals. He plans to file insurance claims for damaged electronics and lost cash, though responsibility for the accident remains unclear.
A 19-year-old Lithuanian passenger, Gabrielius Baranovičius, said many people initially didn’t grasp the seriousness of the situation. That changed rapidly once the ferry began to sink. After reaching safety, he stopped filming the chaos to help others struggling in the water.
The Mekong River route between Huay Xay, Pak Beng, and Luang Prabang sees tens of thousands of tourists every year. Yet this is not an isolated incident. In September 2023, another passenger boat capsized along the same corridor, killing three people after becoming entangled in a fishing net.
This latest disaster has once again raised serious questions about safety standards, emergency preparedness, and passenger protection on popular tourist routes in Laos. What should have been a peaceful river journey instead became a stark reminder that when safety systems fail, even paradise can turn deadly in minutes.