At Least 21 Dead After Passenger Boat Capsizes on Sudan’s Nile

At least 21 people have died after a passenger boat sank in Sudan’s River Nile state, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, which is monitoring the incident.

The vessel, carrying nearly 30 passengers including women, children, and elderly people was travelling between the villages of Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai in northern Sudan when it capsized near Shendi on Wednesday evening after being struck by high waves. Six passengers reportedly survived.

“Search efforts are ongoing as additional bodies could still be recovered,” said Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan, spokesperson for the network. Local authorities confirmed that 21 bodies had been retrieved by Thursday.

The Sudan Doctors Network called for the urgent deployment of specialised rescue teams and proper equipment to support recovery operations. It also urged authorities to implement immediate safety measures for river transport to prevent similar tragedies.

“This painful humanitarian disaster once again exposes the fragility of river transport and the lack of basic safety standards,” the group said. Dr. Hassan added that weak regulation of privately operated vessels may have contributed to the sinking, as many boats on the Nile operate without effective oversight, safety inspections, or enforcement mechanisms.

Boat accidents are common in Sudan, where traditional vessels are widely used to cross the Nile, especially in rural areas with limited bridges.

The tragedy occurs amid ongoing national instability following the April 2023 conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which has weakened infrastructure and strained public services, even in regions like River Nile state that have largely avoided frontline fighting.