Bangladesh Ferry Disaster Claims At Least 63 Lives

A ferry disaster on Bangladesh's southern Meghna river claimed at least 63 lives and scores more were missing, officials said. The M.L. Falguni capsized and sank on Dec. 11, and officials said there were 200 people aboard at the time. Rescuers had retrieved 63 bodies when the search was called off on Dec. 12 when the ferry was salvaged and towed to shore, but police said fishermen and relatives continued hunting for missing passengers. About 150 passengers swam to small islands in the river or were picked up by other vessels after the ferry went down about 10 miles (15 km) from the shore, officials and police said. The government has called an investigation into the accident.