Tragic news emerged from Cambodia’s Kandal province where a ferry sinking claimed the lives of at least eight schoolchildren, with three more still unaccounted for. Local police reported the incident occurred on a Thursday night when a small boat, carrying around 15 youths who had left school, sank between two villages in Leuk Dek district in the country’s southeast. Authorities confirmed to Cambodian media that eight students died in the crash, while four others were rescued and transported to a nearby hospital.
As the search for survivors continued, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged police and rescue teams to intensify efforts to locate those missing and to support the families facing an unimaginable loss. The Prime Minister posted a message on his social media account calling for vigilance and compassion for the students’ relatives during this difficult time.
Initial reports from local media indicate that roughly 15 passengers were aboard the vessel when it sank near Kampong Dor Toteung, after leaving Ampil Teuk for the remote village of Koh Chamroeun, an area home to around 300 families. Investigators are probing the accident’s causes, with early findings suggesting possible negligence. The Phnom Penh Post notes that the boat may have exceeded its passenger limit and lacked adequate flotation devices, while rising water levels from recent heavy rainfall in the region could have weakened the craft and contributed to the disaster. Authorities continue to examine all factors, including maintenance of the boat and the adequacy of safety equipment, as teams work to determine what happened and prevent future tragedies.