BRASILIA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian authorities confirmed on Sunday that nine people were mission after a boat with 22 people sunk early in the day in Pantanal, center-west of the country.

       According to the local fire department, 12 tourists and 10 members of crew were on the boat which sank at about 0400 local time (GMT 08h00) near Porto Cercado, a point of reference for visitors in Pantanal.

       The reason of the accident is still unknown, but some survivors said they have heard a noise and then the boat sunk.

       The tourists hired the boat for a fishing expedition, said the local fire department.