Lagos — Senegalese government declares national mourning

No fewer than 700 hundred people are feared drow-ned after a Senegalese passenger ferry capsized off the coast of Gambia in a violent storm.

The ferry, the Joola, was travelling between the southern Senegalese region of Casamance and the capital Dakar when it capsized before midnight on Thursday.

The boat capsized, rolling onto its side under the combined impact of strong gusts of winds and rain

At least 41 bodies have already been recovered and more than 30 survivors are said to have been plucked from the water.

The state-owned ferry was equipped to carry a maximum of about 550 people, according to reports, but Senegal's Prime Minister, Mame Madior Boye, was quoted as saying nearly 800 people were listed as being on board.

"The boat capsized, rolling onto its side under the combined impact of strong gusts of winds and rain," the prime minister said.

"For the moment, the state of the ship has not been called into question."

Unconfirmed reports say the ferry may have suffered engine failure. The ferry had resumed service only three weeks ago, after undergoing substantial repairs. Families of passengers on board the ferry assembled at the quayside at Dakar and Zingui-nchor, the capital of Casa-mance.

Many of the Joola's passengers are from the Joola people, based mainly in Casamance.

The BBC's Chris Simpson in Dakar says the mood is one of anger at the quayside in the capital. He says people are frustrated and anxious because they have been given little information.

Some families quoted by the AFP news agency put the blame on transport officials. They said the Joola had been put back into service prematurely after being out of service for a year.

Security forces were dispatched to hold back the crowds.

Gambian and Senegalese naval and civilian boats have launched a joint rescue operation.

The government has declared three days of national mourning.

The route between Zinguinchor and Dakar is an important trading route.

The southern territory is separated from the rest of the country by the Gambia and a war in the Casamance region has made roads dangerous to travel on.

Many businessmen, therefore, use the sea route to carry out their business.

Our correspondent says there are rumours that the ferry could have been overloaded with merchandise.

A large group of Joola women have been praying and chanting by the waterfront while other friends and relatives listen to local radio reports and trade information about the sea voyage and how the shipwreck had happened.