Fast Boat In Bangladesh Hit Sand Boat, 26 People Killed, Some Still Missing

JAKARTA - At least 26 people have died and a number of others are missing after a speedboat full of passengers collided with a ship laden with sand and sank in Bangladesh's Padma River on Monday, May 3.

"The evacuation team found 26 bodies and several others may still be missing," said Miraj Hossain, a senior police officer in Madaripur district, where the incident occurred.

Five people were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, he said.

Hundreds of people die each year in ferry accidents in Bangladesh, a low-lying country with extensive waterways and lax safety standards.