Ferry sinking leaves eight dead in south-eastern Cambodia

Authorities in Cambodia have confirmed that eight people were killed and an undetermined number have gone missing after a passenger ferry sank in the south-eastern province of Kandal on Thursday, October 13.

The incident occurred in the late evening (local time) of Thursday as the unnamed vessel was sailing between two villages in Kandal’s Leuk Dek district.

Local disaster management officials have instructed search and rescue (SAR) and law enforcement agencies to locate any survivors and deceased individuals.

The Kandal Provincial Police reported that, as of 09:00 of Friday, October 14, four survivors and eight deceased individuals have been found.

All eight deceased individuals and two of the survivors are schoolchildren and residents of an islet in Koh Chamroeun village. They had just left school and were returning home when their vessel sank.

A police official said the SAR effort will continue in order to locate and recover any of the other people who were also on the ferry.

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