Local officials reported on Monday that 18 people, mostly children, drowned to death after their boat sank in the Heelou River which is located north of Cotonou, the largest city and the economic hub of Benin.
The overloaded boat was transporting the passengers across the river to the town of Togba when it sank on Saturday night. According to Patrice Hounsou-Guede, the mayor of Abomey-Calavi district, the boat can only accommodate eight passengers but was carrying 27 along with their baggage and four motorbikes.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Benoit Degla ordered the suspension of non-motorized travel on the river pending the result of an investigation into the tragic incident.
Boat mishaps are fairly common in West Africa, where the poor conditions of roads make travel on rivers the only feasible and practical means of transporting both passengers and goods.
However, the enforcement of safety rules and regulations is often lax.
Around 20 school children drowned in October when an overloaded ferry sank on the Okpara River in northern Benin.
Tuesday 18 December 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/17/us-benin-boat-idUSBRE8BG0I020121217
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