At least 21 individuals perished in a tragic incident where a boat capsized in the Nile River in northern Sudan, as reported by the local state administration and eyewitnesses who spoke to AFP.
River Nile State confirmed the recovery of 21 bodies following the accident, provided their identities, and cautioned that several passengers remained unaccounted for.
The vessel was en route between Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai villages when the mishap occurred, as stated by local authorities.
No details were given in the statement regarding the cause of the tragic event.
Eyewitnesses informed AFP that the boat was carrying 30 passengers. The Sudanese Doctors Network disclosed that six individuals aboard the boat survived the ordeal.
The organization highlighted the vulnerability of river transportation due to the lack of safety measures and the absence of immediate assistance from local authorities and rescue teams during the initial phase of the incident.
A significant portion of the Sudanese population heavily relies on single-engine boats operated by individual captains for river transportation. The nation’s infrastructure has been crumbling amidst a prolonged conflict lasting nearly three years.
The ongoing war has led to a division within the country between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, resulting in road closures and a substantial decline in public services, healthcare, and educational facilities.
In another tragic event, a devastating fire erupted at Al-Omda camp near Tawila city in North Darfur, causing the death of a three-year-old child, injuring 13 individuals, destroying 548 homes, and claiming numerous animal lives, as reported by Abu Bakr Haroun, the deputy head of the camp’s management committee.
