12 dead in ferry sinking

An overloaded ferry sank in the Fuyi River in central China's Hunan province, killing at least 12 people, authorities said Monday. The ferry carrying 50 people sank in the river Friday and 38 of them were rescued, Xinhua reported. The report said 20 of those rescued were hurt but the extent of their injuries was not known. Most of the victims were from two primary and middle schools returning home for the traditional mid-autumn festival. The report quoted provincial transportation department sources as saying the ferry was only designed to carry a maximum of 14 people. At least three government officials were fired after the incident. Authorities said the ferry is believed to have run into some riverside iron cables used by sand mining dredgers, Xinhua reported.