A rescue ferry is seen on the river Meghna after a ferry sank in Munshiganj February 8, 2013. Image (c) REUTERS/Khurshed Rinku
DHAKA, Feb 9 (Reuters) – At least 14 people died and five were still missing after a ferry carrying 50 people collided with a sand barge and sank on Bangladesh’s giant Meghna River on Friday, officials said on Saturday.
“Rescuers found 12 dead bodies inside the salvaged ferry, while two bodies were recovered yesterday,” said Mohammad Saiful Hassan Badal, administrator of Munshiganj district, where the accident happened.
Six of the dead were children, aged between two and 10.
“We called off the rescue operations with five people missing,” he said, adding that about half the passengers managed to swim ashore and some were rescued by local villagers.
The Meghna River is one of three rivers that forms the Ganges Delta.
Unregulated and overcrowded ferries often run in to trouble on low-lying Bangladesh’s extensive network of rivers. Hundreds of people are killed in accidents every year despite government vows to crack down on unlicensed operators. (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Michael Perry)
(c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions
Many people and organizations in Bangladesh, IMO, Inteferry and elsewhere have been working to solve the problem of ferry safety — addressing crew training, weather, overloading and poor quality vessels. If interested in learning more please see links below.
If interested in addressing the most difficult problem, poor quality vessels there is a design competition for safe affordable vessels. Please contact ferrysafety@gmail.com for more information.
http://www.interferry.com/taxonomy/term/5
http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/industry-news/imo-action-plan-addresses-ferry-safety
Very sorry for the disaster. I had provided three(3) weeks salvage & diving basic course to the 16 delegates from BIWTA, last summer in Korea. They had been making big efforts to develope the inland water safety, such as training and preparing the two(2) 250T floating cranes with tugs.
Very sorry again from my heart to the victims and their families with relatives.
Thank you. I agree with you that they are making big efforts in inland water safety. And more needs to be done by all who can.
Very sorry for the disaster. I had provided three(3) weeks salvage & diving basic course to the 16 delegates from BIWTA, last summer in Korea. They had been making big efforts to develope the inland water safety, such as training and preparing the two(2) 250T floating cranes with tugs.
Very sorry again from my heart to the victims and their families with relatives.
Very sorry for the disaster. I had provided three(3) weeks salvage & diving basic course to the 16 delegates from BIWTA, last summer in Korea. They had been making big efforts to develope the inland water safety, such as training and preparing the two(2) 250T floating cranes with tugs.
Very sorry again from my heart to the victims and their families with relatives.
Yes, fully agree with your opinion, especially more needs to prevent similar disaster. Neverthless BIWTA(Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) has a plan to have two(2) months salvage & diving training in situ (on the designated river) with the floating crane and tugs. This plan should be conducted before the end of November last year, but postponed till now. Neverthless, principle and tactical policy shall be required to prevent the incidents.
Yes, fully agree with your opinion, especially more needs to prevent similar disaster. Neverthless BIWTA(Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) has a plan to have two(2) months salvage & diving training in situ (on the designated river) with the floating crane and tugs. This plan should be conducted before the end of November last year, but postponed till now. Neverthless, principle and tactical policy shall be required to prevent the incidents.
Yes, fully agree with your opinion, especially more needs to prevent similar disaster. Neverthless BIWTA(Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) has a plan to have two(2) months salvage & diving training in situ (on the designated river) with the floating crane and tugs. This plan should be conducted before the end of November last year, but postponed till now. Neverthless, principle and tactical policy shall be required to prevent the incidents.