Dozens presumed dead from a ferry sinking off Burma Skip to main content

Dozens presumed dead from a ferry sinking off Burma

Rescued ... Rescuers were frantically searching for survivors on March 14 after an overlo
Rescued ... Rescuers were frantically searching for survivors on March 14 after an overloaded ferry sank in rough waters off the coast of western Burma. Picture: AFP PHOTO Source: AFP
RESCUERS have been frantically searching for survivors after an overloaded ferry sank in rough waters off the coast of western Burma killing more than 30 people and leaving at least a dozen more missing.
The “Aung Takon 3” went down late on Friday after leaving the town of Kyaukphyu on its way to Sittwe in western Rakhine state, police said.
Officials arrive near Kyauk Phyu port, Burma near where a ferry capsized after being slam
Officials arrive near Kyauk Phyu port, Burma near where a ferry capsized after being slammed by huge waves. Picture: AP Photo/DVB Source: AP
“The latest death toll is 33 — four men including a monk and 29 women. At least 12 persons are still missing,” a police officer in Sittwe town said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He added that 169 people had been rescued and no foreigners were believed to be on board the ship.
“We suspect that the boat sank because it was overloaded with goods,” the police officer said, adding that the ship was listed as carrying 214 passengers and crew.
Injured ... a survivor rescued after a ferry capsized near Kyauk Phyu port, Burma. Pictur
Injured ... a survivor rescued after a ferry capsized near Kyauk Phyu port, Burma. Picture: AFP PHOTO/Myanmar News Source: AFP
But locals said they feared the ferry was packed with unregistered ticket holders who would not have shown up on the ship’s manifest, a common practice on the impoverished nation’s often overcrowded ferry network.
“We don’t know how many are still missing because some people were on board without official tickets,” Hla Shwe, a local from Ngaputhone village said by telephone.
“There are many dead bodies which didn’t appear yet,” local MP Maung Lone added, also by telephone. “We estimate about 300 people were on board.” Three navy boats and a host of private vessels were sent to scour the area after news emerged that the ferry had sunk shortly after 8.30pm on Friday (Saturday 1am AEDT).
Saved ... Rescuers were frantically searching for survivors after an overloaded ferry san
Saved ... Rescuers were frantically searching for survivors after an overloaded ferry sank in rough waters off the coast of western Burma. Picture: AFP PHOTO Source: AFP
Many Burmese citizens living along the nation’s lengthy coastline and flood-prone river systems rely heavily on poorly-maintained ferries for transportation and sinkings are not uncommon.
Locals said the area where the “Aung Takon 3” capsized was notorious for its treacherous waters.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/dozens-presumed-dead-from-a-ferry-sinking-off-burma/story-fnizu68q-1227263169200

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...
1 comment
Read more

Three Dead, Seven Injured by Artillery Shells in Two Incidents in Myanmar’s Mrauk-U

By MIN AUNG KHINE 2 December 2019 Sittwe, Rakhine State –Three Mrauk-U township residents died and four others were injured when an artillery shell struck their community in the Ale Zay quarter of Mrauk-U town on Monday afternoon after 4 p.m. A month-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and a 30-year-old woman died, according to Dr. Khin Maung Yin, the head of Mrauk-U hospital. He said, “A man and three other women were injured. One of the women sustained severe injures to her left leg and her right knee was dislocated. The injured will be operated on.” Details of what occurred were not yet known. A few hours earlier, three civilians were injured when an artillery shell fell on the village of Na Leik in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State, western Myanmar, on Monday at around 1 p.m., according to Yan Aung Pyin village-tract administrator U Sein Hla Aung. Two females, aged 13 and 27, and an 18-year-old male were injured in the incident, he said. Three people were hit by shrapnel and we have...
Post a Comment
Read more