Ferry fire kills at least 39 and leaves 72 injured in Bangladesh

The destroyed passenger ferry anchored off the coast of Jhalokati district (AP)

A massive fire swept through a crowded river ferry in Bangladesh early on Friday, leaving at least 39 people dead and 72 injured, officials said. Many passengers leapt from the vessel into cold waters to escape the blaze.

It took 15 fire engines two hours to control the fire and another eight to cool down the vessel, according to fire officer Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan, who led the rescue operation.