Boat Accident Leaves 11 Dead in Bonthe District.

By Jonathan Omaru in Mattru Jong

Eleven people have drowned in Bonthe district on their way to a weekly market locally called doorway. Among the victims are a pregnant woman and a child. This was confirmed to TV Salone and Mountain Waves by the Regional Manager, Sierra Leone Maritimes Administration South; Lawrence Conteh.

“The boat left Mokitteh for Mano Koigainya on a weekly market trip locally called (doorway) by 3:30 pm on Friday, January 20th. It submerged to the heavy waves before reaching its destination,” he said.

Conteh added that the boat had been withdrawn to stop plying the sea routes of Bonthe district until it meets the safety measures of the Sierra Leone Maritime agency.

“This boat flouted this rule and loaded an unknown number of passengers for mano Koigainya. We received a distress call from our team (SIA-Search and Rescue) on Bonthe Island that there was a disaster and requested rescue. By the time we sent our response team, the boat had already sunk. Eleven people were confirmed drown by our staff through investigations,” Conteh added.

Mr. Conteh said the boat failed to meet certain safety regulations that’s why it was suspended from plying and its license was seized since November last year. He said, out of the eleven (11) victims, nine are women whose bodies have been recovered. Two others are still unaccounted for.

“We conducted the search and rescue and handed the corpses to the bereaved families. This is tragic and we therefore called on the public to help us promote safety at sea,” Mr. Conteh ended.