At least nine students in southern Cambodia who were crossing a river died after the boat they were on capsized, officials said.

Four people – two students and two of the boat’s crew – were rescued following the accident on Thursday night on the Mekong River southeast of Phnom Penh, and two students were still missing on Friday, police said.

Major General Chhoeun Sochet, chief of the Kandal provincial police, said on his Facebook page that the boat was overloaded and carried no life jackets.

The students, who were between 12 and 14 years old, lived on an island in the river and used the ferry for transport almost every day in the rainy season, as did others from their village. During the dry season, the river has little or no water and can be traversed by foot. The students were on their way to an English class on Thursday when the boat capsized.

The accident occurred near the Neak Loeung bridge over the Mekong, which at that point separates Kandal province on the western shore from Prey Veng on the east. The bridge is part of Route 1, a major road connecting the capital, Phnom Penh, to Ho Chi Minh City in neighbouring Vietnam.

The police chief in Kandal’s Leuk Daek district, Am Thou, said the accident occurred as the boat was approaching the shore. It took on water in the bow, and the students were instructed to move to seats in the middle or stern of the boat.

However, as they walked back, the boat became unbalanced and turned over.

Police chief Am Thou said the boat’s owners, who were its crew, had been admitted to hospital after the accident but would face legal action. He did not say what charges they would face. (AP)