“Apart from the four people who died five other passengers of the boat are still missing. The boat, which sank in the Lay Myo can carry nearly 50 people” said a local authority source in Min Bya.

The motor boat was sailing from the village of Shaw Chaung and was heading for the harbour when its rudder caught fishing nets under the water causing it to capsize.

Soon after the tragedy in Lay Myo, the second largest river in the State, four bodies were recovered from the river. The authorities are looking for the missing passengers, most of the passengers were rescued by the authorities.

Ferry accidents are common on the rivers of Arakan State as most of the Arakanese population use small motor boats for transportation.