At least 21 people were killed Thursday when a boat sank in the Nile River in northern Sudan, the local state government and eyewitnesses told AFP.

River Nile State said that 21 bodies had been recovered after the accident, listed their names and warned that some passengers were still missing.

The boat was crossing the river between the villages of Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai, according to the local government's statement.

The statement did not explain the cause of the accident.

Eyewitnesses told AFP the boat was carrying 30 people.