At least two dead following shipwreck off Gabonese capital: official
Only 121 people were rescued and search operations
LIBREVILLE: At least two people died following a shipwreck that occurred early Thursday off the coast of Libreville, Gabon’s capital, Minister of Transport Eric Joel Bekale announced Thursday.
At least two people died as a ship, known as the “Esther Miracle” from the Royal Coast Marine company, sank at 3:58 a.m., local time, off the coast of Libreville, the minister announced via a video message.
Only 121 people were rescued and search operations “are currently continuing,” he said, without specifying the number of passengers on board.
A military source reached out by Xinhua earlier Thursday also said at least two people died and about 20 others went missing following the shipwreck that happened in the night from Wednesday to Thursday, while the Gabonese navy has dispatched rescue teams to find survivors.
An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the tragedy, according to the minister.
The ship was carrying passengers and goods bounded for Port-Gentil, the economic capital of the Central African country.
The ship was relatively new, according to a source close to the company, quoted by local media.
-Xinhua
