BAMAKO - Twenty people died and 23 others were missing after a boat capsized on the Niger river near the central Malian city of Mopti, a local official said Saturday.

The official from the regional civil protection agency in Mopti, who requested anonymity, told Xinhua that there were 20 people dead, 23 missing and 210 survivors, adding the figures were based on the accounts made by the survivors themselves.

Witnesses told Xinhua that the boat was carrying more than 500 people before it broke and sank in the river.

Some witnesses had earlier said up to 30 people were killed in the accident.