Ferry hits fishing boat; 45 Chins missing
December 21, 2007 - Forty five Chins went missing after a ferry boat heading for Malaysia from Kawt Tawng town in Tanintary division; southern Burma hit a fishing boat yesterday night. The ferry sank with 45 Chins including women and children.
The ferry service was trying to smuggle 99 Chins from Burma to Malaysia when it hit the fishing boat in Burma's territorial waters. The passengers were believed to have drowned, according to the Chin Refugee Committee in Malaysia.
Apparently, only those who were able to climb into the fishing boat escaped the mishap.
According to the CRC in Malaysia, most of the victims were identified as family members of Chin refugees who took refuge under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Malaysia. They were sailing to Malaysia for a family reunion.
So far, there is no report of rescue work from Burmese authorities.
The condition of the people who survived the accident could not be ascertained. – Khonumthung.
