At Least 58 Dead After Overloaded Boat Capsizes in Central African Republic

On Friday, a tragic incident occurred on the Mpoko River in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, when an overloaded boat carrying around 300 people to a village chief's funeral capsized, resulting in the death of at least 58 people. The wooden boat, which was heading to Makolo, about 45 kilometers from Bangui, got into difficulty shortly after setting off from the pier.

According to witnesses and videos on social media, the boat was overcrowded, with some passengers standing and others perched on wooden structures. The head of civil protection, Thomas Djimasse, confirmed that 58 lifeless bodies were recovered, but the total number of individuals who drowned is still unknown. Rescue services arrived 40 minutes after the disaster, and some of the injured were evacuated by motorbike taxis.

Families were seen searching for their missing loved ones near the river on Saturday, with the help of canoe operators they had hired. The government sent its condolences to the bereaved families and announced the opening of an investigation and the setting up of a support system for the victims' families. Several opposition parties expressed solidarity with the families and called for national mourning.

Why this matters: This tragic incident highlights the need for improved safety regulations and enforcement on waterways in the Central African Republic, a country that has been plagued by a civil war since 2013 and still suffers from bouts of violence by rebel groups or over its resources, including gold and diamonds. The loss of life in this preventable disaster underscores the importance of addressing infrastructure and transportation safety issues in the area.

The Central African Republic government initially reported a provisional toll of at least 30 dead but later revised the figure to 58 confirmed fatalities. The search for other victims continues, as the total number of casualties remains unknown. "The government calls on the population to be more careful and to respect the rules on river transport," government spokesman Serge Djorie stated in a message of condolence to the bereaved.

Key Takeaways

• Overloaded boat capsized on Mpoko River in Bangui, Central African Republic, killing 58.
• Boat was carrying around 300 people to a village chief's funeral when it sank.
• Rescue services arrived 40 minutes after the disaster, evacuating some injured by motorbike.
• Incident highlights need for improved safety regulations and enforcement on waterways in the region.
• Government calls for more care and respect of river transport rules to prevent such tragedies.