Very sad indeed. And with no local equipment or facilities, they are struggling to find the plane or bodies. Thailand is giving support, as is the plane manufacturer ATR. The plane was only 6 months old.
Disturbingly, I recall a comment by a Bangkok Airways employee to me a couple of years ago. I asked why that day's BKK airways flight to Luang Prabang (on an ATR turbo prop) had been cancelled for poor visibility, when the Lao Airlines flight wasn't. Don't think I need to spell out his answer for you.
An awful tragedy, I hope it was a freak unavoidable accident. Not sure the black box will give that info.
TTChang got a reaction from Thanks in Lao Airline crash claims 44 (5 Thai)