Scores missing after Central African Republic boat catches fire and sinks

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/15/central-african-republic-boat-fire-sinks

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About 100 people are missing after a boat caught fire and sank in a river in the Central African Republic this week.

The sinking happened on Monday after the boat’s motor exploded, starting a fire that quickly engulfed the vessel and forced terrified passengers to jump overboard.

The boat was carrying an estimated 100 people down the Oubangui river from the capital, Bangui, when the fire broke out near the village of Modale, officials said on Thursday.

A naval official said at least 80 people were on board the New Jerusalem when it left Bangui, about 80 miles upstream from where it came to grief. “But others had probably been taken on during the voyage, bringing the number of passengers to more than 100.”

Only one body has so far been found, he said, that of a “child who is being taken back to Bangui with his mother, [who was] one of the few survivors. It is hard to say how many people have died because there is no rescue team [in the area]”.

Joseph Tagbale, the mayor of the port district of Bangui, said it was difficult to estimate how many lives had been lost. “We are asking the authorities to search to see if there are any survivors.”