18 Aug 2009
Seven people have been killed and 17 are feared dead after an overcrowded ferry sank in the Lake Malawi off the coast of Mozambique.

Police said on Tuesday that the ferry with a capacity of 40 set off from Niassa province in the southeastern African nation with 50 people aboard.

Only 26 people were rescued from the sinking ferry, said government spokesman Abudo Momade.

Seven bodies have been recovered and the remaining 17 are feared drowned, the spokesman added.

Jose Mahunguele, the provincial police commander, said he did not know the ages of the victims, but initial reports showed many of those aboard were children.

Lake Malawi, Africa's third-largest, is situated between Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi.
presstv