Haitian gov’t says at least 40 people drown when bus overturns rain-swollen river

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The government of Haiti says at least 40 people have drowned when a bus overturned in a rain-swollen river east of the southern city of Jeremie.

A statement issued by the office of President Michel Martelly says about 60 people were on the bus when the driver attempted to cross the Glace River. Local Civil Protection officials have recovered the bodies of 40 people and are still searching the area. The statement said nine people were either rescued from the submerged bus or managed to swim to safety.

The accident occurred Monday near the town of Pestel on Haiti’s southern peninsula. Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, the director of Haiti’s office of civil protection, says the driver apparently ignored warnings not to try to cross the river.