By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The death toll from the sinking of an “unregistered” boat off northwestern Madagascar on Saturday night has risen to 34, an official said Tuesday, 14 March, 2023.
The Director of Sea Operations of the Port, Maritime and River Agency (APMF), Mamy Thierry Randrianarivony, in a video posted on social networks, said: “In total, 11 lifeless bodies were found on Tuesday during the (search) operation, bringing the number of passengers on the boat to 58, including 24 survivors and 34 dead.”
The authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident.
The boat bound for the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte sank on Saturday night in the seas off Ankazomborona in northwestern Madagascar.
On Monday, 13 March, 2023, the Ministry of Transport and Meteorology said 47 passengers were on board.
The APMF has decided to roll out measures to avoid such accidents, including strengthening the monitoring of standards required for the manufacturing and maintenance of maritime craft, as well as the professionalisation of marine mechanics, said Randrianarivony.
