At a devastating incident 58 people died in the Central African Republic capital Bangui, where a riverboat sunk on its way to a village funeral. The disaster happened on Friday and has left a cloud of grief as the rescue team and local authorities continues to fight the aftermath. According to Associated press reports, the years-old wood ferry, which had over 300 passengers, has already departed its Mpoko River started to sink and then rollover on its way to the destination .
The response to the disaster was swift, with local boat pilots and fishermen immediately springing into action to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies from the river. Adrien Mossamo, one of the fishermen involved in the rescue efforts, recounted finding at least 20 bodies while awaiting further assistance. “It’s a horrible day,” Mossamo expressed, encapsulating the grief and shock felt by many in the community.
As the military now leads the search and recovery operations, the death toll continues to rise. Officials at Bangui University Hospital Center noted that the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, leaving the nation in mourning and uncertainty. The government has not issued an official statement regarding the incident or the total number of lives lost.
Amidst the tragedy, civil society groups and local political parties have extended their condolences through social media platforms, urging for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the riverboat’s sinking.
Thomas Djimasse, head of the civil protection department, provided insights into the ongoing search efforts, mentioning that there could be more victims submerged in the Mpoko River. The gravity of the situation has prompted calls for improved compliance with river transport safety regulations from government spokesperson Maxime Balalou, who confirmed a death toll exceeding 30 individuals.
As the nation grapples with this heart-wrenching event, the focus remains on ensuring swift and comprehensive responses to support the affected families and prevent such tragedies in the future through enhanced safety measures and regulatory enforcement.