Boat sinks in southwest China, 27 dead - Xinhua

BEIJING, Mar 16 (Reuters) At least 27 people died, including elderly and children, when an overloaded boat sank in a river in southwest China, the state news agency Xinhua said today.

Seven passengers were rescued from the boat which was registered to carry only two people but used illegally as a cross-river ferry in Sichuan province, the agency said, citing investigators.

It said it was not yet known how many passengers were aboard the overloaded boat, owned by a local farmer, when it sank on Wednesday.

So far, rescuers had found 27 bodies.

More than 230 people died or were listed as missing in boat sinkings in China last year, according to state media.

REUTERS SK RAI0617