Buthidaung: A ferry boat capsized on the Mayu River in Buthidaung Township, 80 miles north of the Arakan State capital Sittwe, on July 27, killing 30 on board, said a witness.

"The boat sank in the confluence between the Mayu River and Sai Din Creek in southern Buthidaung when the boat was returning to Nyung Chaung Village from Buthidaung," he said.

The boat capsized as it was trying to brave the heavy current of a whirlpool that formed at the confluence of the two waterways.

"Four people were rescued by local people, but the other passengers, about 30, mostly women and children went down with the boat," he said.

According to a local source, all the victims were Muslims who were traveling to their native villages after trading and visiting markets in Buthidaung. The victims were from villages located between the town of Buthidaung and Nyunt Chaung Village.

Many bodies were recovered from the river and the authorities in the area are still searching for the remaining bodies using machine boats.

People in Arakan State travel in ferry boats around Arakan State because there are many rivers and creeks in the region and such tragedies are not uncommon in Arakan during monsoon.