At least eight children and an elderly woman drowned when a boat they were traveling in capsized in Sobat River in Ulang County, Upper Nile State over the weekend.
Daniel Ging, the executive director of Ulang County, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the nine people drowned when their boat capsized on 24 December on their way from the Tradung to Burmaj village to celebrate Christmas.
“Six of the victims drowned on the spot while four of them were taken to the hospital, but late three of them died,” Ging said. “The bodies of the six victims were recovered from the river.”
The local government official said that among the victims were three children from one family.
For his part, Gen. Chol Atem, the state police chief, confirmed the accident and blamed it on boat operators who work outside of the security and safety system.
He told Radio Tamazuj that there are boats operating outside the security system and it is difficult to deal with them in such circumstances, which leads to such accidents, according to him.
“Yes, the boat capsized on 24 December. Young children and an old woman died in that accident,” Gen. Atem said. “The big boats which take off from proper piers where there is security follow safety rules. But some of these small boats which operate in small river tributaries and villages do not follow the safety protocols. This is why these accidents happen.”
Last November, at least twelve people, including seven children from one family, died by drowning after a riverboat accident in the Kaka area of Manyo County, Upper Nile State.