Four people were killed and 35 others went missing when two vessels sank in Ayeyarwady river in Magway region, central Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Information Ministry.

A vessel on the Ayeyarwady river (Illustrative photo: rainforestcruises.com)

Xinhua news agency cited the ministry’s source that about 150 people from Phayekyun village boarded two water vessels to Kanthar village on 23 July. The passengers fought over controversial house construction issue during the trip.

The ships overturned while the villagers were trying to retreat during the fighting, with weapons involved.

Four bodies including two women were recovered from water and others are still missing.

Search and rescue operations for the missing ones are being carried out.

(Source: VNA)