At least 58 people have died and others are still missing after a crowded ferry sank in Lake Moboko in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, according to the latest toll received on Saturday.
Thomas Demas, the Director General of Civil Protection, who arrived at the scene about forty minutes after the incident, told a local radio station, “We managed to recover 58 bodies. We do not know the number of people still underwater,” according to Agence France-Presse.
In a statement recorded on Friday and broadcasted by the state radio on Saturday, government spokesperson Maxime Balalo stated, “The initial toll stands at no fewer than 30 people dead or missing, with many wounded.”
He added, “The government extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims,” announcing an investigation “to determine the causes of this tragedy and the responsibilities” and the establishment of an “exceptional support system for the families of the victims,” without further details.
Witnesses reported that the ferry was carrying more than 300 people, far exceeding its capacity, and was headed to Makolo, a town located 45 kilometers from Bangui, to attend the funeral ceremonies of a local official.
Witness Maurice Kabenia, who participated in the rescue of the first victims, including his sister, with the help of fishermen before the arrival of paramedics, stated that the ferry capsized shortly after departure.
Families were still near the lake on Saturday searching for relatives who are still missing.
A final toll of casualties is not yet available.
