Death toll put at 145 in sinking of ferry

7/23/2012

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- Authorities in Zanzibar said Sunday that 145 people were killed in last week's ferry disaster in the Indian Ocean. The announcement was made a day after the operation to find survivors from the sinking was called off.

The MV Skagit/Kalama, which also was carrying some foreigners, was en route to Zanzibar, a popular tourist destination, from mainland Tanzania last Wednesday.

"We have recovered five more bodies, bringing the total number of bodies found so far to 73. The ferry had 290 people onboard and 145 were rescued, which means that 72 people are still unaccounted for," a Zanzibar police spokesman said.

Police said they had arrested six suspects Sunday in the disaster.