Boat capsizes in Jonglei, traders report huge losses

A boat loaded with 47 tons of different goods en route to Pariak area of Jonglei capsized in the River Nile on Thursday, with goods worth millions of South Sudanese Pounds.

A boat loaded with 47 tons of different goods en route to Pariak area of Jonglei capsized in the River Nile on Thursday, with goods worth millions of South Sudanese Pounds.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, Abraham Chol, the secretary general for Jonglei Chamber of Commerce said the incident occurred at Pariak, an area South of Bor where some goods were to be offloaded before the boat proceeds to Eastern Lakes State.

Chol said the cause for the accident remains unclear but estimated that the businessmen have incurred losses running into millions of South Sudanese pounds.

He called on both national and state authorities to intervene, saying Bor market supplies different states including Eastern Lakes, Fangak, Bieh and Pariang of Unity State.

In the past two weeks, three boats have capsized in the Nile between Juba and Bor, in three separate boat accidents.