Vietnam boat accident kills 39

At least 39 people, mostly school children, are now known to have died in a boating accident in Vietnam.

The boat was carrying about 150 passengers when it capsized off the country's south coast on Friday.

The students were taking part in a tour arranged to celebrate May Day weekend and the 29th anniversary of the fall of the US-backed South Vietnam government.

Police say the boat was illegally carrying passengers, and suspect a broken pump led it to sink.

Military vessels and fishing boats have carried out a search for survivors, rescuing more than 100 people.

The owner of the boat, a fishing vessel, and its pilot handed themselves in to police for questioning on Saturday, Reuters news agency reported.

The boat developed a leak and began taking on water as it was heading to Hon Khoai island, about 6km (3.5 miles) offshore from Ca Mau province, Vietnam's southernmost tip.

Some frantic children reportedly used mobile phones to call their parents for help as the boat went down.

"I was standing at the front of the boat and I realised that the boat was tipping over," boat passenger Cao Thai Nguyen, 23, told Reuters Television.

"I went to check the inside of the boat and it was full of water. I rushed to take a knife and a blanket trying to seal the leak but I could not. I then screamed to other passengers that the boat was sinking, it would be gone in 15 minutes."