Many die in Djibouti boat tragedy

[AYOUB]

At least 69 people have died when a boat capsized in the Red Sea off the coast of Djibouti.

The authorities say the vessel was on its way from the port of Djibouti to the town of Tadjoura.

 

They say 36 people who were injured in the accident are now being treated in hospitals in Djibouti.

 

It is believed the boat was carrying more than 200 passengers who were travelling to a religious festival. The cause of the accident is not yet known.

 

Interior Minister Yassin Elmi Bouh told the BBC that since there was no list of passengers it was possible that more people were missing at sea.

 

The boat has been towed back to Djibouti port, close to where it capsized.

 

US and French troops based in Djibouti have helped the rescue effort.

 

Crowds of worried relatives have flocked to the town's police stations, hospitals and mosques as well as the port to try and get the latest news.

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4884752.stm

 

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DUBAI (Reuters) - A Djibouti-flagged ferry sank off the coast of the African country on Thursday, the U.S. military said, and media reports said at least 69 people died out of more than 300 passengers on board the vessel.

 

"A Djibouti ship sank near the port of the capital at noon today. The ship was sailing from the town of Tadjoura in the northwest of the country toward the Djibouti capital and was carrying over 300 people," Al Jazeera television said quoting its Africa-based correspondent.

 

"Around 70 bodies have been pulled out. Rescue operations are expected to cease at night because of no availability of equipment for searching at night," the television added.

 

The BBC online Web site reported at least 69 had died and 36 people were injured when the vessel carrying passengers who were traveling to a religious festival capsized in the Red Sea.

 

The Web site said U.S. and French troops based in Djibouti have helped in the rescue effort.

 

The boat has been towed back to Djibouti port, the BBC added.

 

Captain Bob Everdeen of the Combined Joint U.S. Task Force, Horn of Africa, said U.S. officials were notified that a Djibouti ferry had gone down earlier in the day.

 

"We called and asked if they needed any assistance from us. The only assistance they asked for was for our divers to go to their Djibouti navy headquarters," he said.

 

The small Red Sea state is a hub of U.S. counterterrorism operations in the region.