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Seven killed in Bangladeshi ferry capsizal

Xinhua, February 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Seven bodies have been recovered after a ferry carrying some 150 passengers sank on Friday afternoon at the confluence of a river after it struck a submerged island in southern Barguna district, some 300 km away of capital Dhaka, said a fire brigade official.

The ferry, carrying on board about 150-200 passengers, capsized in Payra river in Barguna district after it developed cracks following a collision with the submerged island, said the official who did not want to be named.

He said a search operation is still underway, and a rescue vessel has been called in to boost local efforts to salvage the ferry.

According to the official, many passengers were able to swim ashore after the accident at about 1:15 p.m. local time, but could not tell the exact number of missing passengers.

Ferry services in Bangladesh do not maintain lists of passengers and no one is able to tell exactly how many passengers a ferry carries.

Ferry and boat accidents are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers. Ferry is still a key means of transport in the country. Most of the ferries are often overcrowded.

At least 138 bodies were recovered after a ferry capsized in Bangladesh's central Munshiganj district in March 2012. Endi