General

At least 21 individuals have lost their lives after a passenger boat sank in the River Nile state of northern Sudan, according to a medical organization that spoke to the BBC. The boat was en route between the villages of Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai, carrying almost 30 passengers, which included women, children, and elderly individuals, as reported by the Sudan Doctors Network. Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan, a spokesperson for the network, mentioned that “rescue teams are still working since there could be more bodies.” As of Thursday, authorities in River Nile state confirmed that 21 bodies had been recovered, as reported by the AFP news agency. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the boat capsized due to high waves on Wednesday evening in the Shendi region. Earlier reports from the medical group stated that six people managed to survive. The group has called on authorities to send specialized rescue teams and equipment to speed up the search efforts. They also urged officials to “take immediate measures to ensure river transport safety and prevent the recurrence of such disasters that take innocent lives.” The organization added, “This painful humanitarian tragedy once again shows the fragility of river transport and the lack of basic safety measures.”