At least 19 people were Monday evening receiving medical treatment following a fire that engulfed a motorboat carrying diesel and petrol on Sunday.
The boat, which was loaded in Juba and en-route to Unity State, caught fire under unclear circumstances.
The Boat Traders Union Secretary General of Jonglei State, Elijah Thongbor told Radio Tamazuj that one barrel the boat was carrying exploded, sparking the blaze.
“The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the witnesses onboard reported that a barrel containing either diesel or petrol burst,” Thongbor explained.
Despite efforts to control the blaze, additional rescue boats were unable to contain the fire due to its intensity. The fire caused the boat to burn uncontrollably while being carried by the water currents, ultimately leading to its sinking. Some of the rescuers were among those injured.
The Director of the Bor State Hospital, Dr Bol Chau, confirmed that 19 people had been admitted with injuries from the fire. Among them, four patients with severe burns had been referred to Juba.
Local authorities were working to determine the circumstances that led to the explosion and subsequent blaze.