{Authorities in Mali say the death toll from a boat accident near the town of Konna last week has more than tripled to 72.}<\/p>\n
Security Minister Sada Samake says rescuers found were able to refloat the boat and when they did, they found more bodies inside.<\/p>\n
During a Friday news conference, government officials said more than 200 people survived the accident.<\/p>\n
Investigators say the boat was overloaded with passengers and cargo when it broke apart and sank on the Niger River.<\/p>\n
They believe hundreds of people were on board when the nighttime accident occurred on October 11.<\/p>\n
Officials say the boat was traveling from the northern town of Mopti to Timbuktu.<\/p>\n
The Niger River is a major transportation route for people in northern Mali.<\/p>\n
Large boats carrying hundreds of passengers and cargo routinely travel the river and other key West and Central African waterways.<\/p>\n
Safety regulations are lax and accidents are common.<\/p>\n
VOA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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