12 Missing After Boat Sinks in Sudan’s White Nile River

At least 12 people went missing after a boat carrying 16 passengers capsized in the Wad Al-Zaki area of central Sudan’s White Nile State on Saturday, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, a volunteer group involved in rescue operations. Four passengers were rescued, while search teams continue combing the river for the missing.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the boat sank while crossing between the villages of Wad Al-Jatra and Wad Al-Zaki as passengers were travelling to attend a wedding. Social media posts show volunteers and small boats conducting rescue efforts, with local residents lining the riverbanks to monitor the operations.

This accident follows a similar tragedy just days earlier in northern Sudan’s River Nile State, where a ferry carrying more than 27 people sank, resulting in at least 21 deaths. Civil defence authorities have repeatedly warned about the dangers of overloaded wooden boats, especially in rural areas where bridges are scarce.

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Sudan Doctors Network has urged authorities to enforce strict safety regulations, inspect riverboats, and ensure life-saving equipment is available to prevent recurring accidents. Overloaded ferries and strong river currents during the flood season have made such incidents a persistent risk across the country.

Local authorities and civil defence teams are continuing search and rescue operations, while the affected communities mourn the victims. The repeated incidents highlight the urgent need for improved safety measures on Sudan’s rivers, particularly in remote regions where reliance on traditional wooden boats is high.

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