UPDATE 1 -- Ferry carrying hundreds capsizes off Zanzibar, many feared dead

UPDATE 1 -- Ferry carrying hundreds capsizes off Zanzibar, many feared dead

2011-09-10 14:04:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

ZANZIBAR (BNO NEWS) -- A ferry carrying at least 600 and as many as 1,000 people capsized between two islands in the Zanzibar archipelago, off Tanzania, on early Saturday morning, officials and residents said. Many are feared to have drowned.

The accident happened in the early morning hours and involved a ferry which was traveling between Unguja Island and Pemba Island, the two main islands of the Zanzibar archipelago. Residents said between 600 and 1,000 people were believed to be on board when it sank.

Few details were immediately available, but the government of the semi-autonomous republic confirmed more than 200 people had been rescued. An unknown number of bodies have also been recovered.

Rescue operations were continuing on late Saturday morning.

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