Death toll in ferry capsizal in southern Bangladesh rises to 12

DHAKA, May 4 - The death toll of Saturday's ferry capsizal in Bangladesh's southern Patuakhali district has risen to 12 on Sunday morning after another five bodies were retrieved from River Golachipa, local police said.

They said around a dozen of people were still missing.

"Another five missing bodies were recovered on Sunday morning which takes the number of total death toll to 12 from seven on Saturday," Mohammad Fakhruddin, a local police officer, told Xinhua over phone on Sunday.

He said rescuers have recovered the missing bodies on Sunday morning from nearby areas where the ferry capsized.

The ferry, carrying on board about 50 to 60 passengers, capsized on Saturday evening in Golachipa river in southern Patuakhali district, about 204 km away of capital Dhaka, after it was hit by a nor'wester (known as a type of storm in Bangladesh), said the police official.

He said many passengers were able to swim ashore after the accident, but the exact number of missing was still unclear.

The official said a rescue vessel has been called in to boost local efforts to salvage the ferry.

Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by about 250 rivers. Ferry is still a key means of transport in the South Asian country. Scores of people are killed each year from ferry disasters in the country.