ABIDJAN, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Eleven people were missing after a canoe capsized Friday on the Sassandra River in Buyo town, southwestern Cote d'Ivoire, a senior official has said.

"It is with profound sorrow that we have learned of the disappearance of 11 people, including women, young girls and an infant, following the capsizing of a canoe caused by a hippopotamus," Minister of National Cohesion, Solidarity and the Fight Against Poverty Myss Belmonde Dogo said in a press release on Saturday.

Local authorities said the tragedy occurred early Friday morning when a hippopotamus attacked the canoe.

The vessel was carrying 14 people, three of whom were rescued. Search efforts were still underway to locate the missing. ■