Laos to observe minute of silence for plane crash victims

[Lite Beer]

LAO CRASH
Laos to observe minute of silence for plane crash victims

The Lao government on Sunday informed all senior officials to observe a nationwide minute of silence at 2:15pm on October 21 in tribute to those who died in Wednesday's plane crash.

The instruction was conveyed to all ministries, government bodies, provincial authorities and the Vientiane mayor.

In Champassak, where the plane crashed, provincial authorities will hold a ceremony at the Km 4 area in Pakxe district to mourn those who died.

The search and rescue committee has now retrieved 43 bodies of the 49 people on board the plane that crashed into the Mekong River in Phonthong district.

The bodies include those of the two pilots, two flight attendants and an engineer. The remains of foreign nationals are at Vat Chin temple while the nine bodies of Lao citizens are at Vat Phabath temple, both in Pakxe district.

Champassak provincial Deputy Governor, Dr Bounthong Divixay, told Vientiane Times on Sunday the nationwide observance will be accompanied by a report on Wednesday's crash, thought to be the worst in Lao aviation history.

High-ranking government officials will take part to pay tribute to those who died and express their condolences to the victims' relatives and friends.

Meanwhile the recovery operation continues so that the remains of all the deceased can be handed over to their families.

Lao authorities are working with Thai frogmen to search for the wreckage of the plane in hopes of determining the cause of the accident.

Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation Yakua Lopangkao told Vientiane Times that authorities have yet to locate the main fuselage.

"We can identify the general location of the plane, but have not yet been able to find it," he said, adding that the Mekong is quite deep and fast-flowing, making the recovery operation difficult.

Experts from French manufacturer of the plane, ATR, have arrived in Laos to assist with investigation and help recover the black box containing flight data.

On Saturday, most people in Champassak province went to temples to take part in almsgiving ceremonies, which had previously been planned to mark the end of Buddhist Lent. This year, the ritual also served the purpose of paying tribute to the victims of the plane crash.

People living in Pakxe district said many more people gave offerings to temple monks this year as they also wanted to make merit for those who tragically died.

Pakxe is normally in celebratory mood at this time of the year but now a pall of sadness has descended over the town. It seems that almost everyone is in shock after the Lao Airlines ATR 72-600 plunged into the Mekong near Phaling village.

The annual boat racing festival has been cancelled out of respect for those who died.

-- The Nation 2013-10-21

[noitom]

Thai frogmen.

[MickGC]

The Laos authority appears to be working closely with local and foreign aviation experts to find the cause of this aircraft accident. Kudos to you.