CAR: around sixty dead in a shipwreck on a river

In the Central African Republic, at least sixty people died on Friday April 19 in the sinking of a whaling boat in Bangui. 
The tragedy occurred on the M’poko river, southwest of the capital. 

This report, still provisional, also shows several dozen injured and people missing. 

This whaleboat, 20 meters long and 3 meters wide, carried more than 300 people, including many women and children who were going to the funeral of the village chief Mokola, who died a week ago. 

The boat literally cut itself in two, a few minutes after leaving in an area where the river is deep. 

According to several witnesses, overloading could be the cause of the boat sinking. 

Without modern means of rescue, it was canoeists and residents who mobilized to try to save the shipwrecked people. 

More than a hundred injured people were evacuated on motorbike taxis, rickshaws and ambulances. 

At midday, several dozen passengers were still missing. Research continues. 

Since Friday, hospitals in the capital have been welcoming dozens of survivors, some of whom have been admitted to intensive care.