WORLD : 47 Die in Dhaka Ferry Sinking
A crowded ferry boat capsized when passengers scrambled to save a child who fell overboard, and at least 47 people drowned, news reports said today. Fifty-six others were missing.
The privately owned boat was carrying 153 people back from Myanmar (formerly Burma) after a day’s trip when it sank Monday during high tide in the Naff River in southern Bangladesh, the United News of Bangladesh reported.
The news agency quoted survivors as saying the ferry swayed and sank after passengers hurried to rescue a child who fell into the river from the boat. The child was among the dead.
Among the dead were 24 women and five children.
The news agency quoted local officials as saying the final death toll will be higher because many of the missing are presumed dead.
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