At least 21 people have died after a passenger boat sank in River Nile state in northern Sudan, a medical group has reported. The boat was traveling between the villages of Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai, carrying nearly 30 passengers, including women, elderly people, and children. Rescue teams are continuing with their work since there could be more bodies, according to Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan, spokesperson for the Sudan Doctors Network.
Authorities in River Nile state confirmed that 21 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday. Eyewitnesses indicated the boat capsized due to high waves on Wednesday evening in the Shendi area.
In an earlier statement, the medical group noted that six people had survived. They urged authorities to deploy specialized rescue teams and equipment to accelerate search efforts and called for immediate measures to enhance river transport safety to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Dr. Hassan stated that the tragedy highlights the fragility of river transport and the lack of basic safety measures, mentioning that many boats operating on the Nile are privately owned and lack regulatory oversight.
Sudan frequently experiences accidents involving traditional boats, particularly as they are often used in rural areas where bridges are scarce. The recent conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has further deteriorated the country’s infrastructure and resources, making incidents like this even more tragic.
Authorities in River Nile state confirmed that 21 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday. Eyewitnesses indicated the boat capsized due to high waves on Wednesday evening in the Shendi area.
In an earlier statement, the medical group noted that six people had survived. They urged authorities to deploy specialized rescue teams and equipment to accelerate search efforts and called for immediate measures to enhance river transport safety to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Dr. Hassan stated that the tragedy highlights the fragility of river transport and the lack of basic safety measures, mentioning that many boats operating on the Nile are privately owned and lack regulatory oversight.
Sudan frequently experiences accidents involving traditional boats, particularly as they are often used in rural areas where bridges are scarce. The recent conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has further deteriorated the country’s infrastructure and resources, making incidents like this even more tragic.
