17 Killed, 68 Missing as Ship Sinks off Madagascar Coast

A cargo ship sank off Madagascar's northeastern coast, killing at least 17 people and leaving 68 missing, officials announced on Monday.

The ship, illegally carrying 130 passengers, left the city of Antanambe, in the eastern Mananara North district in the early hours of Monday, according to a report from the Maritime and River Port Agency.

Jean Edmond Randrianantenaina, director-general of the Maritime and River Port Agency, asserted that it is not authorized to carry passengers and Antanambe is not an official port.

The report affirmed that at least 45 people have been rescued from the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Randrianantenaina also noted that a hole in the ship's hull is believed to have caused it to sink.

“According to the information we were able to gather, water entered the engine room. The water started to rise and it swallowed up all the engines,” he said. “Then the ship began to sink. We don’t know exactly what time the water started to rise, but our interventions began around 9 a.m.”

Moreover, he added that three boats from the national navy and the maritime agency are continuing the search for those still missing.