At least 15 missing after ferry capsizes in Bangladesh

BARISAL, Bangladesh – A river ferry capsized Monday in southern Bangladesh after colliding with a bigger ship, and at least 15 people were missing, a government official said.

About 35 survivors swam ashore or were rescued by residents of nearby Phulhuri village on the Bishkhali River, administrator Faruk Ahmed said.

No deaths were reported but rescuers launched a search for 15 people listed as missing, Ahmed said.

The smaller ferry, carrying about 50 passengers, was traveling from Barisal to Potakhali in Barisal district, he said.

Survivors said the sunken boat, the Niharika, collided with a two-deck ferry, M.V. Sadia.

Angry Phulhuri residents blamed the larger vessel for the accident and detained it at their village, about 75 miles south of the capital, Dhaka, a police official said on condition of anonymity.