This file photo shows Malaysian security officials standing next to the dead bodies of Indonesian migrants wrapped in black plastic bags on a beach in Kota Tinggi of Malaysia\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Johor state.<\/p>\n
At least 21 people are unaccounted for following an accident during which an overloaded boat capsized in a river in Malaysia, officials say.\n<\/p>\n
The incident took place on Tuesday when the ferry, carrying about 100 passengers, hit rocks in Rajang River in the state of Sarawak.\n<\/p>\n
Belaga town’s police chief Bakar Anak Sebau said that he believes \u00c5\u201cthere were women and children onboard.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cThe boat was overloaded,\u201d he said, noting that the ferry was carrying more people than its recommended limit of 74 passengers.\n<\/p>\n
Abdul Halim Abdullah, the state government’s local administrator for Belaga, also confirmed that, \u00c5\u201cAround 21 people have not been accounted for.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Police rescuers, fire department officers and villagers have been dispatched to the site of the incident to find the missing people, Bakar said.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cWe hope they (the missing passengers) will be OK,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
DB\/HJL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n