Chile intensifies search for children missing in boat accident
The Chilean government stepped up efforts on Monday to find 10 children still missing after a barge carrying them capsized.

Interior Minister Franscisco Vidal and Education Minister Sergio Bitar were sent to the Lago Maihue region to help coordinate efforts to locate the children, local media said.

Officers from the army and military police as well as officials from the nearby town of Futrono are also helping with the search.

But officials said there was little hope of finding survivors.

The boat, which was carrying 33 passengers, most of them schoolchildren out on a trip, sank into the depths of Lake Maihue, some 900 km south of Santiago, the Chilean capital, on Sunday.

Civil defense authorities have rescued 16 survivors while seven children haven been confirmed dead.

Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said: "This is a terribly upsetting incident. I would like to send my condolences, regrets and my feelings of support to the victims' families."

Lagos said he was in constant touch with regional authorities and would find out the cause behind the accident.

Local reports suggested the boat, with a capacity to carry 19 people, was carrying too many people, shortly before being struck by a large wave.