Passenger ferry sinks in Bangladesh, 66 dead, dozens missing (VIDEO)
The rescue operation to recover passengers after a ferry accident in Munshigong on Mar. 13, 2012.
At least 35 people are dead and more than 100 missing after a double-decker ferry sank in a river in southern Bangladesh, CBS News reported.
The BBC is reporting that the incident happened in the Meghna River, which is in Munshiganj district, about 20 miles south-west of the capital Dhaka. The passenger ferry was traveling to Dhaka from the Shariatpur district.
Officials told AFP that divers have recovered 66 bodies. The death toll is expected to rise, and authorities are now working to raise the wreckage.
Local police chief Mohammad Shahabuddin Khan said that 35 people had been rescued from the MV Shariatpur-1, according to the Associated Press.
Although Khan put the number of people on board at 200, the news agency said a survivor told reporters that the number was closer to 300.
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A report from the Telegraph said the ferry hit a cargo vessel at around 2:30 a.m. local time, when most of the passengers were sleeping. According to CBS, the ferry is 70 feet under water.
There are unconfirmed reports that the Shariatpur-1 was hit by a small oil tanker, the BBC said.
Boats are the main form of transport in rural Bangladesh, AFP explained, adding that accidents are common due to lax safety standards and overloading.
Below is a raw video of the ferry accident:
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