Two dead, several others missing after fishing boats capsize off Bangladesh

Two people are confirmed dead while several others have gone missing after a number of fishing vessels capsized and sank in rough weather off the southern coast of Bangladesh on Friday, August 19.

Authorities said the capsizings occurred in different areas of the northern waters of the Bay of Bengal between 150 and 210 kilometres south of the country’s capital of Dhaka.

One vessel with 18 crewmembers capsized off Hatia, one boat with 19 personnel capsized in the Nazirartek Channel , and 11 other boats were lost near Patuakhali district.

A total of 76 survivors were pulled from the water during the subsequent search and rescue (SAR) operation. Tragically, two fishermen who were on board the boat that capsized off Hatia were later pronounced deceased and another 27 personnel from all 13 boats remain unaccounted for.

Officials assured that the SAR operation to locate the missing fishermen will continue.

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