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More than 200 civilians in South Sudan have drowned in a Nile ferry accident while fleeing fighting in the town of Malakal, the BBC reported, citing an army spokesman.

He said women and children were among the victims in Sunday's disaster.

Some 355,000 people have been displaced by the fighting between the South Sudanese government and rebel forces, according to the UN.

Malakal is the gateway to the oilfields of the Upper Nile region and the town has seen fighting in recent days.

"The reports we have are of between 200 to 300 people, including women and children. The boat was overloaded," army spokesman Philip Aguer told the AFP news agency.

"They all drowned. They were fleeing the fighting that broke out again in Malakal," he added.

Malakal is located on the banks of the White Nile - just north of its confluence with the Sobat River.

Thousands of civilians have been trying to escape the fighting by crossing the river, but many say they simply cannot afford to pay for a boat, says the BBC's Andrew Harding in South Sudan.

Some 9,000 civilians have recently arrived at a UN base in Malakal, almost doubling the number of people seeking shelter there.

On Tuesday, heavy fighting was reported in and around the government-held town of Malakal, amid reports that rebels were closing in. Malakal has already changed hands several times since the conflict began last month.

In the south, government troops are believed to be advancing on Bor - the only major town held by the rebels.

Meanwhile, talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in South Sudan are currently taking place in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The negotiations are being overseen by the East African regional bloc, Igad.

The violence erupted on 15 December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers backing Riek Machar, his former vice-president.

President Kiir is a member of South Sudan's largest ethnic group, the Dinka, while Mr Machar represents the Nuer - the second-largest ethnic group.

The UN estimates that more than 1,000 people have died since the conflict began on 15 December.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody conflict, to become the world's newest state.