KANDAL: Authorities have found and retrieved another dead body from the sunken ferry disaster in Leuk Dek District of Kandal province, increasing the death toll to nine. As of 12:30 pm on Friday afternoon, 14 October, four survivors have been rescued and sent to the hospital, nine dead bodies have been found, and two more are still missing.

Most of the victims are students between the ages of 12 and 16. Nine of the 15 victims were students from Hun Sen High School in Kampong Phnom commune, among which five have been found dead, three were rescued and one is still missing. The six remaining students were from Hun Sen Primary School in Koh Chamroeun village, among which four were killed, one was found alive and one is still missing.

The nine dead have been identified as Udom Mony, Son Sophat, Phat Tina, Phearum Davin, Pheak Pheanon, Chenda Julie, Phat Sokheng, Chan Sokchim and Sovath Sovanleakena.

Authorities are still searching for two more students: Meas Sovanreach, a 14-year-old boy from Hun Sen High School in Kampong Phnom commune, and Ry Srey Lin, a 12-year-old girl from Hun Sen Koh Chamroeun Primary School.

The ferry boat sunk around 6:30 pm on Thursday, carrying 15 students who had been returning home after attending an English class.

Kandal Provincial Police believe that the tragedy occurred because the boat was being driven at a high speed without caution, and because it was overloaded with passengers. Additionally, the boat was not equipped with life buoys for safety.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has sent a message expressing his deepest condolences to the families of the victims who passed away in this tragic ferry accident. He has instructed authorities to continue searching for the missing victims and has also advised citizens living along the river to be very careful when the water rises and flooding occurs.