Second Brazil ferry capsizes, 22 dead

A second ferry has sunk in Brazil in a week, this time claiming the lives of at least 22 people.

A ferry carrying about 130 passengers has capsized in Brazil's coastal state of Bahiay, killing at least 22 people, the country's second fatal maritime accident this week.

Local authorities say 21 others had been rescued by the navy after the ferry capsized on an early morning trip between Ilha de Itaparica and state capital Salvador on Thursday.

"Others were rescued by their own means, since the location was not far from the coast and also not so deep," said Flavio Almeida, a naval captain.

"We are working hard on rescue efforts at the site," he said.

The governor of Bahia declared three days of mourning in response to the tragedy.

In a separate incident in the northern state of Para on Tuesday, the death toll rose to 21, with five people still missing, according to a statement on the Para state government's website on Thursday.

The statement said 23 people were rescued on Tuesday.

The boat that sank on Tuesday was not legally authorised to transport passengers, it said, citing the Regulation and Control Agency for Public Services for the State of Para.


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Source: AAP



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