Atr Crash In Laos

[Kip Powick]

(CNN) -- A Lao Airlines plane crashed as it prepared to land during poor weather in southern Laos on Wednesday afternoon, killing what witnesses said were dozens of passengers, according to the country's national news agency, KPL.

Witnesses said at least 47 people were killed in the crash near the Champasak provincial capital of Pakse, KPL reported, though Laotian authorities have yet to release an official death toll.

The ATR propeller-driven plane was preparing to land when a wind gust appeared to push it away from the airport, KPL reported. The plane crashed on or near an island in the Mekong River, according to KPL.

Remnants of Typhoon Nari have been hitting the area. Pakse has received more than 3.9 inches of rain since Tuesday.

The plane was headed from the Laotian capital, Vientiane, to Pakse, an official with the Thai Foreign Ministry said. The official, who did not want to be identified, said Thai nationals were among those on board.

At least seven French nationals were among the dead, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement Wednesday.

"Our first thoughts go to the victims' families and loved ones, to whom I address all my condolences," Fabius said.

TORSTAR.

BANGKOK— A Canadian is believed among those killed Wednesday when a Laos Airlines crashed in the Southeast Asian country.

Of the 44 passengers and five crew members, no survivors have been reported, according to a release from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Lao Airlines flight QV301 was travelling from Vientiane to Pakse when it encountered severe weather just before the aircraft was about to land. It is reported to have crashed into the Mekong River about 4 p.m. Lao time..

“There was no news of survivors at this time,” the government release stated.

The manifest lists one Canadian but that remains to be confirmed by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

“Lao Airlines is taking all necessary steps to co-ordinate and dispatch all rescue units to the accident site in the hope of finding survivors and at the same time informing relatives of the passengers,” stated the release, which offered the airline’s condolences.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said the flight crashed 7-8 kilometres short of the international airport at Pakse.

Lao Airlines flies an ATR-72 twin-engine turboprop plane on the 467-kilometre route.

A passenger manifest faxed by the airline listed 44 people: 17 Lao, seven French, five Australians, five Thais, three Koreans, two Vietnamese and one person each from Canada, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and the United States. Korean, French and Thai officials confirmed the totals for their nationalities.

The Lao government said the airline "is taking all necessary steps to co-ordinate and dispatch all rescue units to the accident site in the hope of finding survivors."

It said the crash is being investigated and the airline hoped to announce its findings on Thursday. A Laos Airlines employee contacted by phone at Vientiane's Wattay airport said a news conference would be held Thursday.