WORLD NEWS: AT LEAST SIX KILLED IN ANGOLA BOAT ACCIDENT

November 18, 2024November 18, 2024

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Agency Report

Rescue attempts continued Monday after a boat accident off the coast of Luanda, the capital of Angola, claimed the lives of at least six people, including two children, according to police and emergency services.

According to officials, the ship carrying over 30 people capsized off the island of Luanda on Saturday while participating in a Catholic marine procession in the southern African country.

Six people have been killed, and 17 others had been rescued, spokeswoman Hermenio Cazucuto told AFP.

He stated that search operations were still underway on Monday and that four individuals were in serious condition in the hospital and three others were still missing.

About two miles off the port city’s coast, the tragedy took place.

Two of the fatalities were youngsters, ages four and six, according to Maina Panzu, a spokesman for the fire rescue services, who spoke to AFP.

The accident’s cause was not known. Panzu added that the skipper had vanished and that “negligence” on his part was a possible contributing factor in the mishap.

The disaster involved a fishing boat in a region with “many waves,” according to local media outlet Angola24Horas, and the boat was carrying too many passengers.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco expressed his sympathies to “the families directly affected by this tragic accident” in a statement released on Sunday.

AFP