One person was burnt to death while ten other passengers in a boat sustained burns when a commercial boat caught fire in Twic East County of Jonglei state on Tuesday evening, police said.
“The boat coming from the Duk area was carrying dry fish destined for the capital Juba. While at the Jorwac docking site of Twic East, a woman mismanaged fire while cooking inside the boat and the fire ignited a container with fuel. A man died on the spot, while 10 other people, including 5 children were injured,” Lt. Colonel John Mawut Ngang told Radio Tamazuj.
The police officer pointed out that more investigations are ongoing into the incident and that the injured are receiving treatment in Bor.
Dr. Bol Chaw of Bor State Hospital said they attended to 8 patients with burns and fractures after the incident but that the injured preferred to go to Juba on Wednesday for further medical attention.
“In total they were 9 with severe burns on the hands, back and chest. Most of them demanded that they proceed to Juba so they left,” Dr. Bol said.
Elijah Thongbor Abraham, the Secretary-General for the Jonglei Boats Union, urged boat owners to take extra precautionary measures for passengers’ safety, describing the incident as unfortunate.
“I asked how the fire started but no one was telling me the truth. The boat burnt with people on board. The assistant of the coxswain died on the boat while the coxswain and the boat manager were burnt and another passenger broke a leg. Eight passengers sustained burns,” Thongbor said
The union official blamed recurring incidents along the River Nile on Negligence.