Four people are confirmed dead and dozens more are feared to have drowned after an overloaded ferry sank on Myanmar's Chindwin River, local authorities said Sunday.
A total of 154 people have been rescued so far since the boat capsized early Saturday morning as it travelled from Homalin to the city of Monywa, northwest of Mandalay.
"Officially this kind of boat is meant to carry 150 people, with cargo," the director of the regional relief and resettlement department, Sa Willy Frient, told AFP.
"We do not know for certain the number of people on board as there is no exact record, but... the total may be around 240 or 250."
Many passengers were students from the local university or schoolteachers, as well as workers travelling home to celebrate the Thadingyut festival -- when devotees across Myanmar light paper lanterns and candles to celebrate Buddha's descent from heaven.
Four of the ferry's staff have been arrested and will face legal action. Authorities are still hunting for one crew member and the owner, said the relief department director.
Searchers Sunday were still trying to locate the capsized vessel and anxious families were waiting nearby for any news.
But those involved with the rescue effort hold out little chance of finding any of the missing alive over 36 hours after the ferry went down.
"I heard people crying out," said Aung Soe, a 37-year-old from a nearby village who tried to help save the passangers.
"People in the village were shouting out to help them and many people tried to save them. The boat sank very fast and I think the rest of the people were drowned in the river."
Boat accidents are common in Myanmar. Many living along the nation's long coastline and flood-prone river systems rely heavily on poorly maintained ferries for transport.
At least 21 people including nine children died in April after a boat capsized off the coast of Myanmar's Rakhine state.
In March last year 33 people lost their lives off the west coast when an overloaded ferry sank in rough waters.
AFP
Sun Oct 16 2016
A total of 154 people have been rescued so far since the boat capsized early Saturday morning.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Selasa, 17 September 2024.
Warga emas maut dihempap pokok
Seorang lelaki warga emas maut manakala cucunya cedera apabila dihempap pokok tumbang ketika sedang berkhemah.
Tumpuan Rabu – 18 September 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
Belanjawan 2025: Kerajaan fokus strategi stabilkan inflasi - Fadillah
Kerajaan Persekutuan akan memfokus kepada beberapa strategi dalam menstabilkan inflasi sekali gus menangani cabaran kenaikan kos sara hidup rakyat dalam Belanjawan 2025.
Ketua Menteri Delhi Kejriwal letak jawatan, pembantu utama sebagai pengganti
Ketua menteri Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, meletak jawatan pada Selasa dan digantikan oleh pembantu utamanya Atishi Marlena.
AWANI 7:45 [17/09/2024] - Definasi halal semakin berkembang | Tiada sejarah ke luar negara | Ibu bapa sudah dikenal pasti | Jumlah mangsa meningkat
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Essan Yahya;
1. Sijl halal bukan lagi soal babi dan alkohol, kata PM
2. Kes terbaharu mpox di Malaysia
3. 392 kanak-kanak jadi mangsa GISBH, ada ibu bapa enggan akui anak
4. Banjir di Kedah dan Pulau Pinang semakin memburuk
1. Sijl halal bukan lagi soal babi dan alkohol, kata PM
2. Kes terbaharu mpox di Malaysia
3. 392 kanak-kanak jadi mangsa GISBH, ada ibu bapa enggan akui anak
4. Banjir di Kedah dan Pulau Pinang semakin memburuk
AWANI Ringkas: Tujuh PPS dibuka di Pulau Pinang
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
LLB beri amaran jangan hampiri pantai, R&R Bagan Ajam
Gabungan air pasang besar berserta hujan lebat dan ribut menyebabkan fenomena ombak besar yang menghempas kawasan tepi laut Pulau Pinang terutama di sekitar Pantai Bersih.
Banjir di Kedah semakin memburuk, bilangan mangsa cecah 1,018 orang
Situasi banjir di Kedah makin memburuk selepas bilangan mangsa mencecah 1,018 orang daripada 268 keluarga yang ditempatkan di 11 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di negeri ini.