80 children drown as boat capsizes in Sierra Leone

FREETOWN - At least 80 children were killed when the boat in which they were travelling capsised off the coast of Sierra Leone capital during a storm, media reports said.

A total of 150 people, including children were on board the vessel at the time of the accident Wednesday. Officials said the engine of the boat stopped working before the accident.

Meanwhile, rescue officials have saved 36 people and the search was continuing for other survivors. The vessel could not be traced.

The boat was returning from the Waterloo town to Freetown.