ADDIS ABABA: At least 19 people were killed when their boat sank in a river in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region on Saturday, the region’s official media reported on Sunday.
According to local media reports, the boat capsized while transporting passengers across the Tekeze River, which forms a natural border between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan.
The Amhara Media Corporation (AMC) reported that the boat, which was carrying an estimated 26 people, sank around noon local time (0900 GMT). Only seven survivors, including a child, were rescued from the river under challenging conditions, as stated by a local administrator. These survivors were taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
As of the latest updates, two bodies had been recovered from the river, with the search for the remaining victims ongoing.
The Tekeze River is a significant waterway that runs along Ethiopia’s border with Eritrea before crossing into Sudan. The river is known for its unpredictable currents.
The Amhara region, Ethiopia’s second most populous area, has been experiencing considerable instability. The region has been embroiled in conflicts involving the Ethiopian military and the ethnic Amhara militia known as Fano.
Furthermore, Amhara forces were engaged in the broader conflict in the Tigray region, where they fought alongside federal government troops against Tigrayan rebels.
