Rescuers have found the bodies of 28 victims after a boat reportedly carrying about 30 passengers sank in a river that runs through Youxi Town in Yuechi County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Wednesday.

Only seven passengers survived.

The river is about 20m wide and three meters deep.

Authorities cannot confirm exactly how many people were onboard at the time of the accident. But they have confirmed that the boat was owned by local farmer, Yang Yongsheng.

The boat is registered to carry two passengers. However, it was regularly used as a ferry to carry passengers illegally, according to investigators.

The passengers were reportedly heading home from a fair. Among the dead were elderly people and children.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)