A harrowing maritime disaster has happened in Ethiopia’s northwestern Amhara region, claiming the lives of at least 19 individuals. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday as a passenger boat capsized on the dangerous Tekeze River, a waterway that partially delineates the Ethiopian-Eritrean border.
According to the state-run Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the ill-fated vessel was carrying a total of 26 people when the disaster struck. While rescue efforts have managed to save seven survivors, including a child, the sad reality is that the majority of passengers remain unaccounted for, with only two bodies recovered thus far.
This maritime tragedy comes on the heels of another devastating natural disaster in the country. Just days prior, a landslide in southern Ethiopia resulted in a devastating death toll exceeding 250. The twin calamities have sent sorrows through the nation and cast a sad pall over the populace.
