At least five people have died and more than 30 are missing after a passenger boat capsized on a tributary of the Amazon in Brazil.

The accident occurred on the River Solimoes as passengers were returning from a party near the city of Manaus.

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Fire-fighters and 15 divers are trying to locate survivors in the silty river.

The accident occurred on the Solimoes at around dawn on Sunday about 80km (50 miles) from Manaus, the city's fire department said.

Boats on the Amazon and its tributaries are frequently overloaded in passengers and cargo.

Fire Lt Col Raimundo Rodrigues da Silva said the dead had not yet been identified.

Many people may have been asleep below deck when the accident happened, he said.

(BBC)

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