Afghanistan ? A boat sank while crossing a river in Afghanistan’s most dangerous province, killing about 60 Taliban fighters and civilians, officials said Saturday. Elsewhere, 34 other suspected Taliban were killed during a military operation.

The boat sank as it was crossing the Helmand River, which snakes through southern Helmand province, the world’s leading opium poppy region and site of fierce battles the last several months. Hundreds of Taliban insurgents are believed to be in Helmand.

The Afghan army was investigating to see how many Taliban insurgents and civilians were on board, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. It did not say what caused the boat to sink.

A ministry spokesman, Gen. Zahir Azimi, said that Afghan troops saw the boat sink from a military helicopter, suggesting that those on the boat may have been involved in a battle.