Death Toll Rises to 21 After Ferry Sinks on Nile in Sudan’s River Nile State
The River Nile State government said in a statement that 21 bodies have been recovered so far, while civil defence and local residents continue search operations for others believed still unaccounted for following the tragedy.
The wooden ferry was travelling between the villages of Tayba Al-Khawad and Deim Al-Qarai, in the Shendi locality, when it capsized amid high waves, officials and eyewitnesses said. The vessel was reportedly heavily overloaded, carrying more than 30 people of varying ages, including women and children, when it went down.
Authorities say eight passengers were rescued, but additional passengers remain missing as divers and civil defense teams work to scour the river. The Sudan Doctors Network; a voluntary medical group confirmed the accident and highlighted the fragility of river transport and inadequate safety standards in the region.
Officials and community members have urged the deployment of specialised rescue units and equipment to enhance search efforts and improve safety measures for inland waterway travel, which remains a lifeline for many rural communities that lack bridges and alternative infrastructure.
River transport accidents are frequent in Sudan, where many rely on rudimentary wooden boats for crossing the Nile. Civil defence authorities previously warned that such vessels are especially vulnerable to rough conditions during flood seasons, and accidents have led to significant loss of life in past years.
The incident has drawn fresh calls for urgent action to strengthen safety protocols and oversight of river ferry operations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
