Five Thai tourists were killed when their car plunged into a deep ravine in Luang Prabang, approximately 300 km north of the Lao PDR capital Vientiane, on Friday.
The fatal crash was reported by Laotian authorities to the rescue unit in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai at about 10pm on Friday, according to Mr. Charnvit Punnanant, president of Nong Khai charity association. Rescuers were immediately sent to Luang Prabang to join their Laotian counterparts in the search and rescue operation between Kasi and Nan townships.
All the five tourists were found to have died in the accident. The five bodies were retrieved from the mangled wreckage and taken to a hospital in Luang Prabang to await collection by their families.
According to passports found at the scene, all five victims were members of the Srisawat family.
Ms. Bussadee Santipitak, spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said the embassy in Vientiane had been notified of the fatalities and is now in the process of contacting the victims’ relatives in Thailand and arranging for repatriation of the remains.
