Dhaka - Five schoolgirls drowned in a lake in the northern suburbs of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, after their pleasure boat capsized, rescuers said Thursday.

Four others were rescued Wednesday by firefighters as the teenagers struggled to keep themselves afloat in Beguntila lake, which was flooded by recent heavy monsoon rains, a spokesman for the local Mirpur police station said.

Firefighter Abdul Majid, who led the search and rescue mission for the fire brigade, said the five who died did not know how to swim and panicked when the boat began sinking.

The victims were students at a high school who were enjoying a day off from classes. (dpa)