Death toll at 74 as ferry crash leaves hundreds of others missing

Local officials said the search and rescue operation was hampered by fog and swift undercurrents, which are feared to have dragged many bodies downstream. On Friday, 63 bodies were recovered from the wreckage of the ferries in the Meghna river after the collision, which occurred near the town of Matlab, 180 kilometres east of the capital, Dhaka.

River police in the neighbouring port of Chandpur confirmed the recovery of 11 more bodies early Saturday, raising the death toll to 74. Rescue workers said the bodies picked up from the river included those of 22 children. A salvage crew dispatched from Dhaka joined the local rescue team amid fading hopes of rescuing the hundreds of missing passengers. Officials said the double-decker ferry Rajhangshi had more than 400 people on board as it struck the other vessel, Jalkopot, carrying an estimated 200 holiday makers returning to the capital after the Islamic Eed-ul-Fitr holidays. "It is a major river tragedy for Bangladesh this year," Shipping Minister Mufazzal Hussain Maya said. "We're yet to ascertain what caused this disaster."

Survivors said both ferries were travelling in dense winter fog, ignoring safety warnings. About 100 people were known to have survived. Both vessels were smashed in the accident. River police said the Rajhangshi, which left Dhaka earlier for the southern Madaripur town, sank 10 metres deep in the river with scores of people trapped in its body. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered an official investigation into the accident.

(dpa)