Myanmar - ferry crash

At least 50 feared drowned in ferry crash

Article published on the 2009-11-17 Latest update 2009-11-17 13:54 TU

A satellite image of the Irrawaddy Delta, Myanmar
(Credit: Wikipedia/Nasa)

Local officials in the southern Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar said Tuesday that at least 50 people may have drowned after a passenger ferry crashed into an oil barge on Sunday. The Naywintun (Rising Sun) ferry was carrying 180 passengers when it sank.

"The boat sank after colliding with an oil barge," said an official. "We have recovered 34 bodies and there are at least another 16 people missing who are believed to have drowned."

The ferry had been travelling between the towns of Pathein and Thetkelthaung when it sank.

The Red Cross was reportedly in the area and helping the survivors. The remaining 130 people are believed to have been rescued.

The Irrawaddy Delta area is a low-lying part of the country that was hard hit by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008. Most people living in this impoverished area heavily rely on poorly-maintained ferries to get around.