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'No lifejackets' on S Leone boat 'No lifejackets' on S Leone boat
(about 2 hours later)
The small boat that capsized off Sierra Leone's coast with about 150 people on board was not carrying lifejackets, the information minister says. The overcrowded boat that capsized off Sierra Leone with more than 150 people on board was not carrying lifejackets, the information minister says.
"The rules were violated, the boat did not carry lifejackets and people died," Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo told the BBC."The rules were violated, the boat did not carry lifejackets and people died," Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo told the BBC.
The vessel with an outboard motor meant for about 25 people was carrying children returning from their holidays. The vessel with an outboard motor was reported to be carrying many children returning from their school holidays.
A naval rescue mission continued into the night. So far 46 people have been saved and eight confirmed dead. The head of naval rescue mission says 36 people have been saved and 10 bodies have been recovered.
It was travelling a sea route of about 65km (40 miles) along the coast from the town of Shenge to the village of Tombo near the capital, Freetown. "In addition local fishermen and other volunteers are all searching frantically at the scene of the disaster in the hope of rescuing more bodies," police spokesman Ibrahim Samura told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"Rescue operations are being conducted by the maritime naval patrol team and in addition local fishermen and other volunteers are all searching frantically at the scene of the disaster in the hope of rescuing more bodies," police spokesman Ibrahim Samura told the BBC's Network Africa programme. Father missing nine children
But Mr Ben-Kargbo described the efforts more as a "recovery" mission now as hopes of finding other survivors are slim.
The boat was travelling a sea route of about 65km (40 miles) along the coast from the town of Shenge to the village of Tombo near the capital, Freetown.
It capsized not long after it left Shenge near Plantain Island.
The BBC's Lansana Fofana in Freetown says the vessel has not been found and all fishing activities near Tombo have stopped.The BBC's Lansana Fofana in Freetown says the vessel has not been found and all fishing activities near Tombo have stopped.
Hundreds of people have gathered there waiting for news, he says. Local journalist Edward Sesay in Tombo told the BBC News website the village is in a state of mourning as relatives wait for news.
Relatives are in considerable distress, many crying and wailing. He says one man had nine children on the boat who were returning to start the new school term.
Mr Sesay says the boat's owner has not been found to comment on the accident.
Lieutenant Suma, who is in charge of the rescue mission, told Mr Sesay on Thursday morning he suspected the boat may have been carrying up 200 passengers.
Mr Ben-Kargbo said that the cause of the accident seemed to suggest overcrowding.
"Eyewitnesses in Shenge said the boat was very small and it was forced to carry a very large amount of people," he said.