19 bodies recovered so far in Sudan's ferry accident

KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) -- Nineteen bodies have been recovered so far from a ferry that capsized on the Blue Nile in central Sudan, the privately owned al-Rai al-Aam newspaper reported on Sunday.

The ferry, carrying 52 people, mostly schoolchildren aged between 11 and 19, overturned Wednesday when a rope guiding its movement between the two river banks broke off at the village of Um Shoka, 280 kilometers (175 miles) southeast of Khartoum.

A total of 35 people are believed to have drowned. Seventeen people survived by swimming to safety or being plucked from the water by rescuers.

The daily said recovery operations have been hampered by the depth of the Nile, which is swollen by heavy rains.

When flooded, the Blue Nile travels fast and becomes perilous for many people crossing it. Last year, at least 40 people drowned. Most accidents on the Nile are caused by overloading of boats, most of which are old and in poor mechanical condition.

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