BinALAin
March 31st, 2006, 12:35 AM
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/WORLD/meast/03/30/bahrain.ship.ap/story.bahrain.ship.accident.gif
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) -- A ferry carrying up to 150 people sank Thursday night off the coast of Bahrain, and a total of 44 bodies have so far been recovered from the site, Interior Minister Sheik Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said.
Speaking on Bahrain television, he said 52 people have been rescued.
Regional television stations said there were casualties, but gave conflicting figures on the number of bodies recovered or wounded. (Watch how U.S. and Bahraini officials are scrambling to figure out what happened -- 2:50)
The officials and the Bahrain News Agency said the ferry was on an evening cruise that was to last several hours. It overturned less than a mile off the coast, according to the news agency.
There was no indication of what caused the ferry to sink in what appeared to be perfect weather conditions in the area. Terrorism was ruled out by a senior interior ministry official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
"I rule it out 100 percent," said the official.
The agency said Bahrain Coast Guard boats arrived at the site and that rescue operations have begun. It quoted Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Mohammed Ben Dayna as saying more than 60 people have been rescued and taken to hospital.
"It's too early to say what caused the accident," he said.
The passengers were thought to be a mix of Bahrainis, nationals of other Gulf Arab nations and Westerners. Health Minister Nada Haffadh told al-Arabiya television that survivors who arrived at hospitals included nationals of India, South Africa, Singapore and Britain.
The Interior Minister, who is in charge of security, said most of the ferry's passengers were employees of a Bahrain-based company and that they came from several nationalities.
"There are 52 survivors and there are also 44 dead (bodies) that were retrieved," Al Khalifa said. "So far, the (rescue) operations continue. God Willing, there will be more survivors rescued," he said in a telephone interview aired on Bahraini television.
A U.S. Navy spokesman in Bahrain said American helicopters and divers were headed to the site. "We're sending divers, small boats and a helicopter right now," Cmdr. Jeff Breslau said.
The U.S. Navy 5th Fleet is housed in Bahrain.
A pair of helicopters could be seen from the shore flying low over the site of the incident. Rescue teams on small boats could also be seen using flashlights to help them search for survivors in the night.
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) -- A ferry carrying up to 150 people sank Thursday night off the coast of Bahrain, and a total of 44 bodies have so far been recovered from the site, Interior Minister Sheik Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said.
Speaking on Bahrain television, he said 52 people have been rescued.
Regional television stations said there were casualties, but gave conflicting figures on the number of bodies recovered or wounded. (Watch how U.S. and Bahraini officials are scrambling to figure out what happened -- 2:50)
The officials and the Bahrain News Agency said the ferry was on an evening cruise that was to last several hours. It overturned less than a mile off the coast, according to the news agency.
There was no indication of what caused the ferry to sink in what appeared to be perfect weather conditions in the area. Terrorism was ruled out by a senior interior ministry official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
"I rule it out 100 percent," said the official.
The agency said Bahrain Coast Guard boats arrived at the site and that rescue operations have begun. It quoted Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Mohammed Ben Dayna as saying more than 60 people have been rescued and taken to hospital.
"It's too early to say what caused the accident," he said.
The passengers were thought to be a mix of Bahrainis, nationals of other Gulf Arab nations and Westerners. Health Minister Nada Haffadh told al-Arabiya television that survivors who arrived at hospitals included nationals of India, South Africa, Singapore and Britain.
The Interior Minister, who is in charge of security, said most of the ferry's passengers were employees of a Bahrain-based company and that they came from several nationalities.
"There are 52 survivors and there are also 44 dead (bodies) that were retrieved," Al Khalifa said. "So far, the (rescue) operations continue. God Willing, there will be more survivors rescued," he said in a telephone interview aired on Bahraini television.
A U.S. Navy spokesman in Bahrain said American helicopters and divers were headed to the site. "We're sending divers, small boats and a helicopter right now," Cmdr. Jeff Breslau said.
The U.S. Navy 5th Fleet is housed in Bahrain.
A pair of helicopters could be seen from the shore flying low over the site of the incident. Rescue teams on small boats could also be seen using flashlights to help them search for survivors in the night.