YANGON: A passenger boat sank in Myanmar's southwest delta region earlier this week, killing 38 villagers, state media said Friday.

The boat was travelling on the Yway River in the cyclone-hit Irrawaddy Delta when it was swamped early Tuesday morning, the local newspaper said.

"A total of 44 passengers of 82 have been saved and the remaining 38 people died," it said.

The boat had been heading to Myaungmya town, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) from the country's largest city, Yangon.