Sunday, October 11, 2009

10 die as river ferry sinks in Cambodia

Sunday, October 11, 2009
AP

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — At least 10 passengers died in Cambodia when an overloaded river ferry capsized in a tributary of the Mekong River, police said Sunday.

Rescue workers were searching for seven other missing passengers Sunday, a police official said.

The boat was crammed with 30 passengers as it headed to a ceremony at a Buddhist temple, capsizing in midstream Saturday night in northeastern Kratie province, said Police Maj. Leng Sarum.

He said 13 passengers were rescued after the accident and 10 bodies have been recovered, he said.

"There was no storm or heavy rain when the boat sank. The accident happened because it was overloaded with passengers," the officer said, speaking by telephone near the site of the incident.

Late last month, Typhoon Ketsana swept into central Cambodia and toppled dozens of rickety homes, killing at least 18 people and injuring some 100 others.

Saturday's accident happened about 99 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of the capital Phnom Penh.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

May their poor souls rest in peace and I hope our gov't has learnt from this incident and try to create a new law to protect everyone equally, e.g. there should be limited numbers of people on each boat, depending on how big or how small it is like, 4.5 metre long * 1.8 metre width and the maximum number of people 5. If anyone breaks the law, he/she should be charged accordingly. Aust

Anonymous said...

After 30 years of Hun Xen rule, Cambodia just haft centimeter improve above Pol Pot era!

From open killing to lawless!