At least 350 bodies found in sea tragedy

Senegalese authorities have recovered at least 350 bodies following Thursday's sinking of the "MV Le Joola" off the coast of The Gambia, in Senegal's worst ever sea accident. The vessel, officials told IRIN, had a capacity of just over 500 passengers. However it was believed to be carrying between 800 and 1000 people, mainly traders and their goods. Media reports said that a combination of over-loading and failure of one of its two engines in bad weather, may have caused the accident. Lamine Cisse, one of the 72 survivors told IRIN on Saturday in The Gambian capital, Banjul: "The vessel sank with frightening speed. I can still hear very loudly and clearly the desperate cries of women and children. This will haunt me for the rest of my life." Most of the dead were believed to be Senegalese. Others on boat included people from Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, France and Spain. Ships from The Gambia and Italy joined the search for possible survivors and bodies. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade was quoted by news agencies as saying in the capital, Dakar, that the state had taken responsibility for the accident. An "accumulation of errors" resulted in the state-run vessel capsizing, he reportedly said. Wade named a commission chaired by Prime Minister Madior Boye to conduct an inquiry. He also proposed that bodies which could not be identified or had decomposed, be buried in a cemetery in Kafountine area near the southern border with the Gambia. "Le Joola" had been out of service since August 2001 due to technical problems which rendered it unseaworthy. Its return to the water on 10 September followed a row between the Gambia and Senegal over long-standing road transport agreements. The vessel shuttled between the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and Ziguinchor, capital of the southern region of Casamance.