Strong currents prevented rescue team

Rough terrain and strong currents in the Mekong River are the most difficult factors facing the joint Thai-Lao team search and rescue after a crash Wednesday of Lao Airlines plane that killed all 49 passengers and crew members.
"We must overcome the geographical difficulties and weather before reaching the crash site do not need to talk about the plane -. We still have no idea where they are," said Yospon Chantanachart, chief of underwater action team Fubon foundation of charity Ratchathani.
The water in the Mekong is very cloudy and at present is very strong during the rainy season, he said.
A location near the crash site on the banks of the Mekong River is accessible by cars or trucks. Members of the rescue team to carry their own equipment, walk to the river from the nearby road.
Fortunately, the people and the local authorities have a good supply of food and drink for the team, he said.
There plunge into the murky water in the Mekong easily by the divers can not see clearly, said Yospon.
More than 100 members of the rescue team at the start of their joint work at 10am on Thursday to search for the plane and its passengers fell. They found some wreckage and bodies floating down the river, but the main pieces of the plane and most of the bodies had still not been located yesterday.
The Mekong River at the crash site is very wide with a strong current.
"We expect that most of the aircraft and the bodies remain under water and mud in the riverbed," said Yospon.
Laos has its own rescue teams, but this time the accident could be the most serious of the country had ever experienced. The team has no experience in handling such an event, he said.
"We must also consider the safety of the rescue team in conjunction, can not be familiar with the landscape and geography," he said.
As Laos, Thailand also has a good ability to discuss major disaster such as this, said Dr Witthaya Chartbanchachai, director of the World Health Organization for the prevention of accidents. Malaysia and Singapore emergency medical teams are able to cope with such an event better.
"Emergency Relief in the Philippines and Indonesia is more developed than in Thailand as they have accidents more often than not," he said. Asean countries should pay more attention to this issue and create greater cooperation, he added.