Boat sinking leaves four dead near Bangladeshi capital

Officials in Bangladesh report that four people were killed while more than 20 others have gone missing after a boat laden with passengers was struck by another vessel and sank near the country’s capital city of Dhaka on Sunday, July 16.

Initial reports said the passenger boat was transiting the Buriganga River with over 40 people on board when it was struck by a sand-carrying cargo vessel at around 20:15 local time on Sunday.

The passenger boat sank shortly afterwards though the crews of some Good Samaritan vessels quickly diverted to the area with torches to render assistance.

Search and rescue teams have since pulled eight survivors and four bodies from the surrounding waters. The survivors were later brought to hospital.

A fire and rescue official said some of the other occupants who are unaccounted for may have swum to shore after they ended up in the water when the boat sank.

Officials said the boat was transporting 40 passengers when the collision and the subsequent sinking occurred. However, one survivor recounted that there may have been more than 50 passengers, as he had been forced to sit on the cabin roof due to a lack of available seats.

The captain and five other crewmembers of the cargo vessel have been placed under arrest in connection with the incident.