Death toll rises to 1,000 in Senegal ferry disaster

The toll of victims missing and presumed dead in Senegal's ferry disaster soared by nearly 250 yesterday, with the government now saying 1,034 passengers and crew were on board the vessel.

The toll of victims missing and presumed dead in Senegal's ferry disaster soared by nearly 250 yesterday, with the government now saying 1,034 passengers and crew were on board the vessel.

Only 64 people are known to have survived the ocean ferry's capsizing, and last night's announcement escalated the suspected death toll dramatically, to 970.

All of those who survived were rescued by passing fishing boats early on Friday morning, after the state-run ferry Joola capsized in a fierce gale.

Authorities originally said 797 people had been on board. Yesterday they added 185 passengers who had boarded the ferry at a second stop en route from southern Senegal, and the crew, taking the total to 1,034. The ferry was designed to hold no more than 600.