Two died and several others went missing when a boat capsized in the Marial Baai River in Aweil West County of Northern Bahr al Ghazal State on Thursday, local officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday morning, Lt. Col. Deng Mathon Akot, the Police Inspector in Marial Baai Payam, said two bodies were recovered on Friday afternoon after the incident.
According to the police officer, there are reports of missing passengers as people nearby the River said the boat was carrying more than 20 people.
He said the crew team had been detained in the area for further investigations.
“People around the River said the real number of passengers was 20, and others said 10 are missing, but we only found two dead bodies. The boat was coming from Majak Baai to the Agor area in Marial Baai Payam, and when it reached the middle of the River, something happened, and it capsized with the passengers immediately,” Lt. Col. Akot said.
One of the locals, Samuel Mayuol, believes the boat was carrying 24 passengers.
“People have died. The rest of the people are fine. The boat was carrying around 24 people,” he lamented.
Dominic Kang Deng, the Deputy Chairperson for the Commission of Relief and Rehabilitation, said: “The situation is still volatile in Aweil West because it is situated between two rivers, the Makidhik River and Nyamlel River, with much water that causes floods even people have been displaced from their homes and are now taking refuge on roadsides,” Kang stated.
He added there is still no verified information about the exact number of passengers on board.