Cambodians ride a ferry across the Mekong River towards the city of Phnom Penh October 11, 2009. At least 17 people were missing and presumed drowned in Cambodia after an overloaded ferry, similar to the one pictured, sank in the Mekong river, officials said on Sunday. The 14 women and three men were traveling to a local Buddhist temple to watch a performance in northeastern Kratie province, about 200 km (124 miles) from the capital Phnom Penh, when their ferry sank in a tributary late on Saturday in strong currents.
REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA DISASTER TRANSPORT)PHNOM PENH (AFP) — An overloaded river ferry capsized in northeastern Cambodia killing 17 passengers, including two young boys, an official said Sunday.
The ferry, travelling to a ceremony at a Buddhist temple, was crammed with 30 people on board when the accident happened in Kratie province on Saturday night, said Kham Phoeun, governor of the province.
The dead included two boys aged under five, he said. The bodies were recovered on Sunday morning and were being returned to their relatives.
The other 13 passengers swam to safety after the ferry, which was designed to carry 20 people, capsized at around 8pm Saturday (1300 GMT) on a branch of the Mekong River.
"The accident happened because it was overloaded with passengers. There was no strong wind or anything, just a drizzle," Kham Phoeun added.
The ferry, travelling to a ceremony at a Buddhist temple, was crammed with 30 people on board when the accident happened in Kratie province on Saturday night, said Kham Phoeun, governor of the province.
The dead included two boys aged under five, he said. The bodies were recovered on Sunday morning and were being returned to their relatives.
The other 13 passengers swam to safety after the ferry, which was designed to carry 20 people, capsized at around 8pm Saturday (1300 GMT) on a branch of the Mekong River.
"The accident happened because it was overloaded with passengers. There was no strong wind or anything, just a drizzle," Kham Phoeun added.
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