50 dead in Central African Republic boat capsize
Around 50 people were killed after their boat capsized in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui. The victims were on their way to a village funeral when the incident occurred.
A video capturing the moment when a boat capsized in Central African Republic's capital Bangui. (Photo: X/@Sprinterfactory)
In Short
- Incident occurred when the victims were en route a village funeral
- Search ongoing for more possible victims
- Central African Republic government calls for better river transport safety
Around 50 people on their way to a village funeral died after their riverboat capsized in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui on Friday, an official said on Saturday.
"We were alerted 40 minutes after the incident and rescuers were able to extract around 50 lifeless bodies," civil protection department head Thomas Djimasse told Reuters.
He added, in a telephone interview, that the search was continuing with more people possibly drowned in the Mpoko River.
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Government spokesperson Maxime Balalou gave a death toll of over 30 and called for better compliance with river transport safety regulations.