While ferrying more than 200 passengers from the town of Kyaukphy to Sittwe, a town in the western state of Rakhine, the vessel Aung Takon 3 sank off the coast of western Myanmar. The accident resulted in the death of 33 passengers.

There are 26 passengers still missing but are believed to have drowned, while 167 people have been rescued, authorities said, reports VOA News.

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Among the dead are a monk and 29 women, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. A police officer in Sittwe said there appears to be no foreigner on board the ill-fated ferry.

Like most of maritime accidents in Asia, the number of actual passengers is a big question mark due to the practice of allowing travelers even if they are not on the vessel manifest. To worsen the matter, many of the ships and ferries used are old and in poor condition.

Hla Shwe, a resident of Ngaputhone village which is near where the vessel sank, said that some people were on board Aung Takon 3 without tickets.

Also to be blamed is the overloading of cargo, which the police officer suspect is the reason behind the ferry's sinking.

The country's navy deployed three boats for the search-and-rescue mission. It was joined by several private vessels after news spread at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday of the tragedy.

In the past few years, at least two major sinking of vessels were recorded. In 2010, a ferry capsized in the Irrawaddy delta region, killing 10 people. In 2008, a ship sank in the Yway River, drowning 38 passengers.

Residents of the area where Aung Takon 3 sank said its waters is known for being dangerous. Thein Zaw, a Sittwe resident, explains to AFP, "The tide there is very strong and the sea very rough. Fishing boats have often sunk in that area many times before."

Tagsferry sinking, Myanmar