A cargo boat loaded with relief food went up in flames at a dock in the Jonglei State capital Bor on Wednesday.

Elijah Thongbor Abraham, the
secretary-general of the Jonglei State Boats’ Union, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday evening that the boat was docked at a site in Bor en route to the northern part of the state when it caught fire on Wednesday evening.    

“This boat came a few days ago from the Total area where it was loaded with sorghum to be transported to Fangak but on reaching Bor, it docked to wait for another boat which was still being loaded in Total,” he explained. “The crew of the boat was trying to slaughter a hen which unfortunately knocked the cooking fire over into a drum leading to the boat catching fire.”

The official said all the boat’s cargo was consumed by the ensuing flame“The boat was engulfed in smoke and fire and then it sank with all the loaded food items,” he said. “This boat was contracted by the World Food Program (WFP) and had two crewmembers who escaped unhurt.”

WFP could not immediately be reached for comment.

One eyewitness, Deng Garang, said they saw the boat being consumed by fire.

“The boat was docked on the western bank and we just saw it going up in flames,” he narrated. “No one attempted to rescue it until it sank.”