At least six people, including two children, lost their lives in a boat accident off the coast of Luanda, Angola’s capital, according to police and emergency services, as rescue operations were still in progress on Monday.
According to the authorities, the vessel, which was transporting over 30 passengers, was involved in a Catholic maritime procession in the southern African country when it sank near the Island of Luanda on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Hermenio Cazucuto said that six individuals had passed away, while 17 others were rescued. Four people remained in critical condition in the hospital, and three others were unaccounted for, he said, noting that search efforts were continuing on Monday.
The tragedy occurred approximately two miles offshore from the city’s port. A representative from the fire emergency services, Maina Panzu, told AFP that two of those who died were children aged four and six.
While the reason behind the incident remains unclear, Panzu claimed that the captain’s “negligence” was a likely factor in the accident, adding that he was also missing.
Local reports indicated that the boat was overloaded with passengers and that the mishap involved a fishing vessel in a region with “strong waves.”
In a statement released on Sunday, Angolan President Joao Lourenco expressed his condolences to “the families directly affected by this tragic incident.”
