21 People Killed After Boat Sinks in Nile River in Sudan

At least 21 people have died after a passenger boat capsized in the Nile River in Sudan’s River Nile State, local authorities confirmed, as search operations continue for those still missing.

In a statement issued on Sunday, officials said 21 bodies had been recovered following the incident, which occurred as passengers were crossing the Nile between the villages of Tayba Al-Khawad and Deim Al-Qarai, approximately 200 kilometers north of the capital, Khartoum.

Witnesses reported that around 30 people were on board the vessel at the time of the accident. Medical sources said six passengers survived the sinking.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the cause of the incident. However, local sources highlighted longstanding concerns over the fragility of river transport in Sudan, citing the absence of basic safety standards and delays in emergency response during the first hours after the disaster.

Many Sudanese rely on small, privately operated motorboats for river crossings, often with limited oversight. The country’s transport infrastructure has further deteriorated amid an ongoing civil war that has gripped Sudan for nearly three years, compounding risks for civilians dependent on informal transport networks.