Eleven children died Thursday night when their boat sank in Cambodia and three people, including the two owners and the 15-year-old boatman, were arrested, police said on Saturday.
The small boat, carrying children aged 12 to 15 returning from an English class, sank in the Mekong river in Kandal province (southeast) late Thursday evening, about fifty meters from the shore.
The three arrested were taken to Kandal police headquarters for questioning, local police chief Am Thou told AFP. “They could be the subject of a lawsuit. We’re looking into what they could be accused of,” he said.
Authorities halted the search Saturday morning with a final count of 11 dead and four survivors, including two boatmen and two students.
Such accidents are common in Cambodia, where people living near rivers rely heavily on boats to get around. The government recently warned residents of Mekong flooding caused by heavy rains.