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| Vietnam ferry accident 'kills 39' | Vietnam ferry accident 'kills 39' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A crowded ferry has sunk on a river in central Vietnam, killing at least 39 people, officials have said. | A crowded ferry has sunk on a river in central Vietnam, killing at least 39 people, officials have said. |
| The vessel sank in strong currents about 20m (65ft) from the bank of the Gianh river in central Quang Binh province, south of the city of Vinh. | |
| So far, 36 people have been rescued and at least five people are still missing. | |
| Quang Binh police chief Phan Thanh Ha told the Associated Press the ferry had been loaded with 80 passengers, even though it had a capacity of only 12. | Quang Binh police chief Phan Thanh Ha told the Associated Press the ferry had been loaded with 80 passengers, even though it had a capacity of only 12. |
| One of the survivors, Cao Thi Huong, told the VnExpress website that the accident happened when passengers stood up in a rush to get off the boat as it approached a pier at about 0800 (0100 GMT). | |
| Officials said many of those who drowned were women and children. | |
| They had been crossing the river from the village of Quang Hai to go shopping ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year holiday. | |
| The boat's captain and owner have been detained for questioning. |