Ferry fire kills dozens in southern Bangladesh

A massive fire swept through a crowded river ferry in southern Bangladesh early Friday, leaving at least 39 people dead and 72 injured, as passengers jumped off the vessel and swam to the shore, officials said.

The blaze broke out around 3 a.m. on the MV Avijan-10, carrying 800 passengers off the coast of Jhalokati district on the Sugandha River. Officials said the fire may have started in the engine room. The engine continued to run on for about an hour while on fire. 

The ferry was brought to the shore after the fire was extinguished, and the fire engines spent eight more hours cooling it. It's also learnt that rescuers recovered 39 bodies. All of the 72 injured passengers were hospitalized, including seven with severe burns who were taken to a Dhaka hospital in critical condition.