Thirty dead as Bangladesh ferry capsizes at dock
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rescuers have retrieved 32 bodies, including at least 12 children, and are searching for scores of people missing after an overcrowded ferry sank in a river along the Bangladesh coast, police and witnesses said today.
They said the ferry M.V. Coco-4 was sailing to the coastal town of Bhola, some 185 miles from Dhaka, last night with around 1,500 people on board - about three times the number it was registered to carry.
The death toll late on Friday had been put at five.
Many of those on board were going home to celebrate the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival today.
Media at the scene reported the ferry started taking in water after it hit a raised section of the river bed in heavy fog.
Most of those on board swam to safety but up to 80 may still be missing, one survivor said. The ferry was listed with a capacity to carry about 450 people.
"People were trying desperately to reach home before the Eid prayers on Saturday morning. They even found themselves room in the ferry's luggage holds," one witness told reporters.
Officials and transport operators said they were still waiting for a rescue vessel to arrive. An investigation into the sinking has been ordered, the communications ministry said.
Hundreds of people die every year in ferry accidents in Bangladesh, but no major ferry disasters have happened in the past two years after stricter enforcing of safety rules.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments