A ferry sank in a river in Burma's cyclone-battered Irrawaddy delta, killing nearly 40 people, state media reported Friday.

The motorized ship sank in the Yway river in Burma, also known as Myanmar, Tuesday after water entered its stern section, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. The report did not give details about the cause of the accident.

The newspaper said 38 people were killed and 44 were rescued.

The ferry, named Myo Pa Pa Tun, was travelling from Pakeikkyi village to Myaungmya, about 150 kilometres west of Rangoon, the newspaper said. Myaungmya was not badly affected by Cyclone Nargis, which left a swath of death and devastation in much of the delta when it struck in early May. More than 84,000 people died in the storm.

People living in Burma's vast delta region often travel and transport goods by boat because of the lower cost and inaccessibility of many areas by road.

Boat accidents are common in Burma's river deltas and coastal regions. In May, a ferry collided with another passenger boat in Twantay canal near Rangoon, killing at least six people.