Following a reevaluation, the number of people believed missing in a ferry accident off the coast of Gabon has risen to 34, and the death toll has increased from two to three.
The Esther Miracle, a mixed-use freight and passenger ship that sank early on Thursday not far from the coast, was traveling between the capital Libreville and the oil town of Port-Gentil when at least one child and two adults were found dead, according to authorities.
Initial estimates put the number of passengers and crew on board the ship at 151; however, on Friday night, that number was increased to 161.
34 people are still missing, according to Libreville deputy public prosecutor Loic Mangongo, who spoke to public television station Gabon Premiere. “One hundred twenty-four people have been rescued (and) three lifeless bodies have been found, while 34 people are still missing and the search continues,” he said.
Mangongo did not explain why the initial count did not include the 10 additional missing people.
Since the initial count on Thursday afternoon, three more people have also been rescued from the wreck; however, authorities did not disclose how they were discovered.
The likelihood of discovering additional survivors or even bodies this long after the disaster is decreasing due to strong currents in the Gulf of Guinea where the ferry went down.
On Friday morning, experts were dispatched to the sinking site, which is in water that is about 30 meters deep and is close to the bay where Libreville is located.
The accident was being investigated to determine whether negligence, subpar maintenance, or “factors beyond human control” were to blame, according to Libreville public prosecutor Andre Patrick Roponat.
The Gabonese government has ordered an audit of all ships “dedicated to passenger transport” in the nation and has suspended overnight passenger ship voyages until at least March 31 pending the findings of the investigation.
(TNT)
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