Bangladesh: river ferry fire. At least 39 people died

Concert flowed from the capitals of the country dark to Barguna, which is about 250 km to the south. The fire occurred at the end of the road near Mimasta Galokathy. There were 800 passengers on board the ship.

The burning ship was put out by 15 fire brigades. After two hours, the flames were brought under control, and after another eight hours, the burning ferry had cooled enough to anchor the black structure on the river bank.

The bodies of 37 victims were retrieved from the river and two died on the way to hospital. Local police said 70 people were taken to hospital with injuries. She added that some of them suffered severe burns.

It was another disaster in a series of similar disasters in this low-lying country in South Asia. Ferries are one of the primary means of transporting people and goods there.

Experts point to a lack of proper maintenance, overly liberal safety regulations and ferry overcrowding as causes of disasters.