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54 Bodies Are Recovered After River Ferry Sinks During a Storm in Bangladesh 54 Bodies Are Recovered After River Ferry Sinks During a Storm in Bangladesh
(about 3 hours later)
MUNSHIGANJ, Bangladesh — Rescuers have recovered 54 bodies from a ferry that sank in a river during a storm in central Bangladesh, resuming their search on Saturday after protests by relatives of people missing in the disaster.MUNSHIGANJ, Bangladesh — Rescuers have recovered 54 bodies from a ferry that sank in a river during a storm in central Bangladesh, resuming their search on Saturday after protests by relatives of people missing in the disaster.
Officials said 12 people were still unaccounted for, although there was confusion over how many were aboard the ferry when it sank Thursday in the Meghna River. Officials said Saturday that 12 people were still unaccounted for, although there was confusion over how many were aboard the ferry when it sank Thursday in the Meghna River. On Friday, the police had estimated that at least 100 people were missing.
Ferry operators in Bangladesh usually do not maintain a list of passengers, and none was available for the vessel, a local administrator, Saiful Hasan, said.
Earlier Saturday, the authorities called off the search after retrieving 40 bodies, but hundreds of relatives and local residents protested at the scene of the accident in the Munshiganj district, forcing the authorities to announce that they would continue to look for bodies.Earlier Saturday, the authorities called off the search after retrieving 40 bodies, but hundreds of relatives and local residents protested at the scene of the accident in the Munshiganj district, forcing the authorities to announce that they would continue to look for bodies.
By late Saturday afternoon, 54 bodies had been recovered, said Shamsuddoha Khandaker, chief of Bangladesh’s water transport authority.By late Saturday afternoon, 54 bodies had been recovered, said Shamsuddoha Khandaker, chief of Bangladesh’s water transport authority.
“We will continue our search,” he said. “We have towed the ferry to the shore, but we will continue to search for bodies.”“We will continue our search,” he said. “We have towed the ferry to the shore, but we will continue to search for bodies.”
Ferry operators in Bangladesh usually do not maintain a list of passengers, and none was available in Thursday’s disaster, a local administrator, Saiful Hasan, said.
The police estimated that at least 100 people were still missing before the search resumed Saturday and 11 additional bodies were recovered.
A rescue diver, Masudul Haque, said Friday evening that many bodies were still trapped in cabin rooms.A rescue diver, Masudul Haque, said Friday evening that many bodies were still trapped in cabin rooms.
“We have recovered the bodies mainly from the lower deck and other open spaces, but could not open the doors of the cabin rooms where many passengers took shelter after the storm had hit,” Mr. Haque said.“We have recovered the bodies mainly from the lower deck and other open spaces, but could not open the doors of the cabin rooms where many passengers took shelter after the storm had hit,” Mr. Haque said.
A passenger who jumped overboard when the ship began to sink, Sabuj, who uses only one name, said he was among about 25 survivors who swam to shore. He said the captain of the ferry had ignored the passengers’ calls to stay close to the shore as the storm started brewing.A passenger who jumped overboard when the ship began to sink, Sabuj, who uses only one name, said he was among about 25 survivors who swam to shore. He said the captain of the ferry had ignored the passengers’ calls to stay close to the shore as the storm started brewing.
“He continued to steer the ship” out into the water, he said.“He continued to steer the ship” out into the water, he said.
The ferry was apparently overcrowded, and its lower deck was loaded with goods, said Mohammad Ali, a director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority. Officials were investigating whether the vessel had been overcrowded or had design faults.The ferry was apparently overcrowded, and its lower deck was loaded with goods, said Mohammad Ali, a director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority. Officials were investigating whether the vessel had been overcrowded or had design faults.