Home News 58 Die After Boat Capsizes In Central Africa
News

58 Die After Boat Capsizes In Central Africa

Share
58 Die After Boat Capsizes In Central Africa | Daily Report Nigeria
Share

At least 58 people going to a funeral died after their overloaded river boat capsized in the Central African Republic’s capital Bangui, the head of civil protection said on Saturday.

“We were able to extract 58 lifeless bodies,” Thomas Djimasse told Radio Guira. “We don’t know the total number of people who are underwater.

According to witnesses and videos on social media, the boat was carrying more than 300 people — some standing and others perched on wooden structures — when it sank on the Mpoko river on Friday.

The vessel was heading to the funeral of a village chief but got into difficulty shortly after setting off. Rescue services arrived 40 minutes after the disaster.

ATTENTION: Click HERE to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!

Maurice Kapenya, who was following the boat in a canoe because there was no space on board, said he collected the bodies of some of the victims, including his own sister, with the help of fishermen and residents.

Some of the injured were evacuated by motorbike taxis. Driver Francis Maka told AFP he had “taken more than 10 people to the community hospital… free of charge, in the face of the tragedy”.

With civil protection teams no longer on the scene Saturday, families searched for their missing loved ones near the river helped canoe operators they had hired, an AFP journalist observed.

AFP

Share

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles
DSS Uncovers Plot to Fuel Tribal Tensions in Delta, Arrests Army Major | Daily Report Nigeria
News

DSS Uncovers Plot to Fuel Tribal Tensions in Delta, Arrests Army Major

DSS operatives uncover and foil plot to instigate unrest in Warri, Delta...

UK Deports 43 Nigerians in Latest Immigration Crackdown | Daily Report Nigeria
News

UK Deports 43 Nigerians in Latest Immigration Crackdown

The UK has deported 43 Nigerians, including failed asylum seekers and foreign...

G4 Congratulates Tare Pondi on Chieftancy Title
News

G4 Congratulates Tare Pondi on Chieftancy Title

Socio-political group G4 has extended congratulations to Sir Chief Godfrey Tare Pondi,...

Omo-Agege Hails Ayiri Emami as Major Positive Force on 50th Birthday | Daily Report Nigeria
News

Omo-Agege Hails Ayiri Emami as Major Positive Force on 50th Birthday

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the 9th Senate, has congratulated High...