Rio de Janeiro, July 22 (DPA) A ship carrying 185 people sank Tuesday in the Amazon River near the Brazilian city of Manaus.

The ship's rudder broke shortly after leaving the harbour in Manaus, authorities said.

Most of the passengers were rescued by people in the harbour, but it remained unclear whether anyone was killed in the accident.

Some of the passengers were in their cabins at the time of the accident and authorities would not rule out that people were still inside the ship, which was on its way to Santarem in the state of Para. Divers were searching the river for possible victims.