Dozens of people are missing after a ferry capsized following a collision with a cargo boat in southern Bangladesh, police and media say.
Dozens of people are missing after a ferry capsized following a collision with a cargo boat in southern Bangladesh, police and media say.
Rescuers found the body of one woman and some passengers managed to swim ashore after the accident in dense fog on the Kirtankhola river.
Rescuers found the body of one woman and some passengers managed to swim ashore after the accident in dense fog on the Kirtankhola river.
Reports on the number of passengers range from 60 to 150.
Reports on the number of passengers range from 60 to 150.
Boat and ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh's many rivers, due to poor safety standards and overloading.
Boat and ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh's many rivers, due to poor safety standards and overloading.
'Little chance'
Local police official Nuruzzaman Chowdhury told the Associated Press news agency the accident took place near the town of Barisal, about 170km (106 miles) south of the capital, Dhaka.
Local police official Nuruzzaman Chowdhury told the Associated Press news agency the accident took place near the town of Barisal, about 170km (106 miles) south of the capital, Dhaka.
Mr Chowdhury said the cargo vessel had been seized and efforts were under way to locate the sunken ferry - the ML Happy - amid fears it may still be carrying trapped passengers.
Mr Chowdhury said the cargo vessel had been seized and efforts were under way to locate the sunken ferry - the ML Happy.
"We don't know how many people are trapped in the sunken boat, but those still believed to be trapped have little chance to survive," he said.
Local TV reports said the ferry was travelling from Barisal to Mehendiganj and that 10 people were being treated in hospital.
Local TV reports said the ferry was travelling from Barisal to Mehendiganj and that 10 people were being treated in hospital.
One survivor, Jasmine Aktar, 30, told reporters: "I survived by swimming to the shore, but I have three young children missing."
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