At least eight pupils have been confirmed dead and three others missing in Cambodia after a boat that was ferrying them home sank in the Mekong river.
The accident occurred on Thursday at about 7pm local time (12:00 GMT) on the Mekong river southeast of the capital, Phnom Penh, police said on Friday.
The victims were aged between 12 and 15, while two adult boat operators and two students were rescued, he added.
The small boat was overloaded and sank about 50 metres (160 feet) from its destination in southeastern Kandal province after it began taking on water late Thursday, local police chief Am Thou told AFP.
“It’s a sad accident. Eight students died and three students remain missing in the water,” Am Thou said.
During the dry season, the river has little or no water and can be traversed by foot, Police said.
Authorities said the accident occurred as the boat was about 50 metres (160 feet) from shore and began to take on water in the bow.
Instructed to move to seats in the middle or stern of the boat, the ferry became unbalanced and capsized as the pupils tried to adjust their positions.
Police said the search for the missing children is continuing.
The river was about 500-600 metres (1,640 to 1,970 feet) wide at the site of the tragedy and informal boat operators make a living ferrying people between the riverbanks, VOD reported.
Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen offered their condolences on their social media feeds on Friday.
Boat accidents are common in the Southeast Asian nation, with people who live along the river reliant on them for transport.
In 2009, an overloaded river ferry capsized in northeastern Cambodia killing at least 17 passengers.
