Boat capsizes, dozens missing

2009-01-12 22:06

Alberto Dabo and Alistair Thomson

Bissau - More than 40 people, including senior Muslim figures, were missing after a boat capsized off Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, port staff and fishermen said on Monday.

The open wooden craft capsized on Sunday morning in the Atlantic Ocean about 50km from the capital Bissau while en route to Biombo from Pexice Island.

One body was recovered and 45 other people on board were missing, said Carlos Vaz da Cunha, port chief of Biombo.

Fisherman Carlitos Sa said rough weather was impeding efforts to rescue the missing, who included about a dozen members of the National Islamic Council, a group of religious leaders who run mosques and schools.

- Reuters