Sinking of Senegal Ferry Leaves 41 Dead, Hundreds Missing

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, September 28, 2002

Sinking of Senegal Ferry Leaves 41 Dead, Hundreds Missing

At least 41 people died and hundreds went missing Thursday when a Senegal passenger ferry sank off the Gambian coast, Senegal's Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye said Friday.

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At least 41 people died and hundreds went missing Thursday when a Senegal passenger ferry sankoff the Gambian coast, Senegal's Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye said Friday.

Thirty-two survivors were known to have been rescued, the primeminister added.

The ferry, the Joola, with 796 people on board, sank under the effect of a strong wind and rain when it left Ziguinchor, chief town in the Senegalese province of Casamance for the capital Dakaron Thursday night.

Spokesman for the prime minister Diadje Toure said that rescue boats had rescued at least 60 survivors, leaving nearly 700 peoplemissing. But some unconfirmed reports said about 80 people might have been rescued by around middy.

Badgi also disclosed that there were Europeans among the passengers on board and a Senegalese diplomat said a Frenchman had survived.

The Senegal government had declared three days of national mourning as the families of passengers on board gathered at Dakar port, waiting for the news of their loved ones.

Gambian and Senegalese naval and civilian boats have launched arescue operation, the Gambian navy announced.

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