Five Thais die after their car plunges into a Laos ravine

Five Thai tourists were killed in a car accident just over the north-eastern border in Laos.

The incident occurred when their car plunged down a deep ravine in Luang Prabang. The popular tourist region is approximately 300 kilometers north of the Lao capital Vientiane.

Yesterday’s fatal crash was reported at 10pm last night by Lao authorities to the rescue unit in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai, according to Mr. Charnvit Punnanant, president of Nong Khai rescue foundation.

Rescuers were immediately sent to Luang Prabang to join their Lao counterparts in the search and rescue operation between Kasi and Nan townships.

All five Thai tourists died in the accident. The five bodies were retrieved from the mangled wreck 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 Thai embassy in Vientiane had been notified of the fatalities and is now in the process of contacting the victims’ relatives in Thailand to arranging the repatriation of their relatives’ bodies.