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Death toll in Bangladesh ferry sinking rises to 66 Death toll in Bangladesh ferry sinking rises to 67
(39 minutes later)
Rescue workers searching a ferry in Bangladesh which sank on Tuesday with around 200 people on board have now found 66 bodies. Rescue workers searching a ferry in Bangladesh which sank on Tuesday with around 200 people on board have now found 67 bodies.
Recovery ships have pulled the ferry close to shore and plan to re-float it.Recovery ships have pulled the ferry close to shore and plan to re-float it.
About 50 people swam to safety after the Shariatpur-1 collided with a small oil tanker in the Meghna River, south-west of the capital Dhaka. About 35 people swam to safety after the Shariatpur-1 collided with a small oil tanker in the Meghna River, south-west of the capital Dhaka.
Ferry accidents are common on Bangladesh's vast river network and scores are killed every year. Ferry accidents are common on Bangladesh's vast river network and scores of people are killed every year.
Officials say more bodies were found after the ship was pulled into shallower waters, and many more are still thought to be trapped inside. Officials say more bodies were found after the ship was pulled into shallower waters. Many more are still thought to be trapped inside.
Hundreds of people, including some desperate relatives, gathered on the river banks during the rescue operation as bodies were extracted from the water. Hundreds of people, including some desperate relatives, gathered on the river banks during the rescue operation as bodies were extracted.
Laws floutedLaws flouted
The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan - who is on a boat at the scene of the disaster - says the river is about 4km (2.5 miles) wide with a strong current. The ferry is believed to be in water about 21m (70ft) deep. "We have brought one more vessel to lift the wreckage of the ferry from the river bed. Now, we want to drag the ferry to the shore. It is still not clear how many were on board the passenger ferry," Aziza Alam, a senior government official overseeing relief operations in the district of Munshiganj told the BBC on Wednesday.
Our correspondent says it is not possible to say exactly how many people were on board, because passenger lists are rarely compiled on Bangladeshi ferries and many buy their tickets when on board. It was an extremely distressing scene at the rescue operation as night closes in.
It is an extremely distressing scene at the rescue operation as night closes in. Practically every time rescue divers returned to the surface they brought with them a dead body, which was then taken to the shore and placed before a grief-stricken and wailing crowd of hundreds that had congregated on the river bank.
Practically every time rescue divers return to the surface they bring with them a dead body, which is then taken to the shore and placed before a grief-stricken and wailing crowd of hundreds that has congregated on the river bank. It looks as if the sheer scale of this disaster has overwhelmed the authorities.
It looks as if the sheer scale of this disaster may have overwhelmed the authorities. A crane deployed to lift the stricken vessel out of the river proved not up to the task, and frantic efforts are still underway to use boats to tow it from the bottom.
A crane deployed to lift the stricken vessel out of the river has proved not up to the task, and frantic efforts are now underway to use boats to tow it from the bottom.
The sense of chaos has been exacerbated by the lack of clarity as to precisely how many people died.The sense of chaos has been exacerbated by the lack of clarity as to precisely how many people died.
Police say that the final casualty toll could be as many as 200 people. But the true figure is never likely to be known, because the ferry was not carrying an accurate passenger list.Police say that the final casualty toll could be as many as 200 people. But the true figure is never likely to be known, because the ferry was not carrying an accurate passenger list.
The ferry was reportedly travelling to Dhaka from the Shariatpur district when the collision happened during the night. The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan - who visited the scene of the disaster - says the river is about 4km (2.5 miles) wide with a strong current. The ferry is believed to be in water about 21m (70ft) deep.
Some of the rescued passengers said that it was overcrowded and was also carrying dozens of sacks of chillies. Our correspondent says it is not possible to say exactly how many people were on board, because passenger lists are rarely compiled on Bangladeshi ferries and many buy their tickets when on board.
One survivor, Mohammed Belal, told the BBC the ferry was almost turned upside down by the collision. Survivors say more than 200 people were on the ferry, which was going to Dhaka. Hundreds of relatives are still awaiting news of their loved ones.
"Some of us managed to jump out through the windows," he said, "and some of us were hanging by the rails". Some of the survivors said more people than usual were on board the ferry - which was also carrying a large cargo of chillies - because transport services to Dhaka were severely disrupted during an opposition rally in the city on Monday.
"We yelled 'save us, save us' and that's when another ferry threw some ropes into the water. The ferry was reportedly travelling from the Shariatpur district when the collision happened overnight on Monday.
"Everybody was frantically running around. Some of us were able to jump out but many didn't."
Most ferry accidents in the country are blamed on poor safety standards and overcrowding.Most ferry accidents in the country are blamed on poor safety standards and overcrowding.
Shahabuddin Milon, deputy head of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Association, told the BBC's Bengali Service that many cargo boats flout the law banning them from night-time travel, endangering passengers.Shahabuddin Milon, deputy head of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Association, told the BBC's Bengali Service that many cargo boats flout the law banning them from night-time travel, endangering passengers.
Last April, at least 23 people died after a ferry carrying more than 100 passengers capsized in the east of the country.Last April, at least 23 people died after a ferry carrying more than 100 passengers capsized in the east of the country.
In June 2010, about a dozen people were killed after a packed ferry capsized in storms in north-east Bangladesh and in November 2009, 118 people died in two ferry accidents within a week. In June 2010, about a dozen people were killed after a packed ferry capsized in a storm in north-east Bangladesh and in November 2009, 118 people died in two ferry accidents within a week.
Boats are the main form of travel in parts of rural Bangladesh - a country that is crisscrossed by rivers and waterways.Boats are the main form of travel in parts of rural Bangladesh - a country that is crisscrossed by rivers and waterways.
The authorities are repeatedly criticised for failing to honour their pledges to tackle lax safety standards.The authorities are repeatedly criticised for failing to honour their pledges to tackle lax safety standards.
Local government spokesman Azizul Alam said that an investigation has been ordered into the cause of the latest sinking.