Tourist ferry sinks off Bahrain coast; at least 44 dead
{{date|March 30, 2006}}

[[Image:LocationBahrain.png|right|230px|thumb|Map highlighting Bahrain.]]
At approximately 8 p.m. [[w:Eastern_European_Summer_Time|EEST]] (1700 [[w:Coordinated_Universal_Time|UTC]]) in [[w:Bahrain|Bahrain]], a ferry that was believed to have been carrying about 150 tourists and locals was reported missing and overturned off the coast of Bahrain, near the Sheikh Khalifa Causeway Bridge, Sitra. The [[w:United States|United States]] Fifth Fleet has been called in to help with the rescue.

Earlier reports from ''Reuters'' stated that at least 40 bodies had been found, but ''ABC News'' reported that at least 44 are dead.

"There are 52 survivors and there are also 44 dead (bodies) that were retrieved. So far, the (rescue) operations continue. God willing, there will be more survivors rescued," said Bahrain's Interior Minister Abdulla Al Khalifa.

One resident said, "I have seen at least 48 bodies," and ''ABC News'' reported at least 44 dead. However, "many on board were rescued," a Bahraini official was quoted as saying.

"The first report we received was that a Dhow (a wooden boat) has capsized. We are preparing a helicopter to join the rescue. There is no initial indication that this was an attack," said a U.S. Navy spokesman.

==Sources==
*{{source
|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1787707
|title=44 Bodies Found After Bahrain Ferry Sinks
|author=Hasan Jamali
|pub=ABC News (US)
|date=March 30, 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-03-30T215645Z_01_L30763166_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-BAHRAIN-SHIP-COL.XML
|title=At least 40 dead as Bahrain tourist ship sinks
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 30, 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://torontosun.com/News/World/2006/03/30/1512888.html
|title=Bahrain ferry capsizes with 150 aboard
|author=
|pub=The Toronto Sun
|date=March 30, 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Bahrain/196409
|title=Bahrain: Tourist Ship Sinks
|author=
|pub=Al-Bawaba
|date=March 30, 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Bahrain_Ship.html
|title='Ship accident' reported off Bahrain coast
|author=
|pub=Seattle Post Intelligencer
|date=March 30, 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-03-30T204117Z_01_L30763166_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-BAHRAIN-SHIP-COL.XML
|title=Tourist ship feared sunk off Bahrain, some missing
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 30. 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/30/bahrain.ship.ap/index.html
|title=44 bodies reportedly recovered after ferry sinks off Bahrain
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=March 31, 2006}}

[[category:Missing persons]]
[[category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[category:Bahrain]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Merchant shipping]]

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
Map highlighting Bahrain.
At approximately 8 p.m. EEST (1700 UTC) in Bahrain, a ferry that was believed to have been carrying about 150 tourists and locals was reported missing and overturned off the coast of Bahrain, near the Sheikh Khalifa Causeway Bridge, Sitra. The United States Fifth Fleet has been called in to help with the rescue.

Earlier reports from Reuters stated that at least 40 bodies had been found, but ABC News reported that at least 44 are dead.

"There are 52 survivors and there are also 44 dead (bodies) that were retrieved. So far, the (rescue) operations continue. God willing, there will be more survivors rescued," said Bahrain's Interior Minister Abdulla Al Khalifa.

One resident said, "I have seen at least 48 bodies," and ABC News reported at least 44 dead. However, "many on board were rescued," a Bahraini official was quoted as saying.

"The first report we received was that a Dhow (a wooden boat) has capsized. We are preparing a helicopter to join the rescue. There is no initial indication that this was an attack," said a U.S. Navy spokesman.

*

*

*

*

*

*

category:Missing persons
category:Disasters and accidents
category:Bahrain
Middle East Transport Merchant shipping