At least six people, including two children, have been killed in a boat accident off the coast of Luanda, Angola’s capital, according to police and emergency services. Rescue operations were ongoing as of Monday.
The boat, which was carrying over 30 people, was part of a Catholic maritime procession when it sank near the Island of Luanda on Saturday, police reported. Hermenio Cazucuto, a police spokesperson, confirmed that six people had died and 17 others had been rescued. Four individuals were reported to be in critical condition in hospital, while three others remained missing. Search efforts continued throughout Monday.
The accident occurred approximately two miles from the coast of the port city of Luanda. Maina Panzu, a spokesperson for the fire emergency services, revealed that two of the deceased were young children, aged four and six.
While the cause of the accident remains unclear, Panzu suggested that “negligence” on the part of the captain could have been a factor, and that the captain himself was missing. Local media outlet Angola24Horas reported that the boat was overcrowded and that the incident occurred in an area known for its rough waves, with a fishing boat involved in the accident.
In a statement on Sunday, Angolan President João Lourenço expressed his condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, calling it a “tragic accident.”
