Hopes were fading today for up to 100 people - mostly women and children - who are missing after a ferry sank off the southeastern Bangladesh coast. Seven people are so far confirmed dead.
The overloaded ferry sunk in bad weather yesterday as it made its way to the coastal island of Sandwip from the mainland town of Barbakunda, near the port city of Chittagong.
Local ferries do not keep passenger lists, making it difficult to know the exact number of people on board although reports have said it may have been carrying as many as 200 people.
Six navy gunships and boats carrying divers and equipment resumed the search this morning.
Ferry accidents, mostly blamed on overloading and unskilled skippers, are frequent in Bangladesh which has a wide coast and hundreds of rivers.
In the last major ferry accident in December, 88 people died after two ferries collided in southern Chandpur district.
AFP