Yaounde, June 10 (IANS) A total of 37 bodies have been recovered after an accident that occurred involving two boats carrying over 200 passengers along the Benue river in northern Cameroon, media reported citing official sources.
According to media reports on Tuesday, about 10 survivors had been rescued while many other people are still missing.
Cameroon’s public broadcaster has reported that the country’s national navy was still searching for survivors and victims of the accident that saw two boats collide last Saturday, according to Xinhua news agency.
Having left Lagdo region heading for Rey Bouba locality within the same region, the two boats were said to be overloaded and collided after being swept away by strong winds, security sources said.
Over 200 passengers are thought to have been on board both the boats along with an unknown quantity of merchandise.
Some of the victims were identified as traders returning from the Lagdo weekly market, while others were identified as family members coming from a Muslim marriage ceremony.
Official statistics cited by the media indicate that on some days, especially market days, over 500 small boats move between Lagdo and Rey Bouba.