A Bangladeshi ferry carrying hundreds of passengers going home for the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival sank late Friday as it approached a river landing, leaving at least five people dead and dozens missing.
Local authorities say the incident occurred on the Tetulia river near the town of Lalmohan on Bhola island, some 250 kilometers south of the capital, Dhaka. They say the vessel listed to one side when passengers were disembarking at a ferry terminal.
Rescuers rushed to the scene to search for people trapped in the cabins on lower levels.Fatal ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh.
Many of the incidents are blamed on poor safety standards, lax enforcement, and boats that are often loaded far beyond capacity.