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Sudan troops drown in Nile crash | Sudan troops drown in Nile crash |
(20 minutes later) | |
At least 77 soldiers have drowned in southern Sudan after a military steam boat sank on the River Nile. | At least 77 soldiers have drowned in southern Sudan after a military steam boat sank on the River Nile. |
The soldiers, belonging to the former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), died after their vessel collided with a passenger ferry. | |
Minutes later two rescue boats ran into each other killing another soldier. | Minutes later two rescue boats ran into each other killing another soldier. |
After 21 years of civil war, water transport in southern Sudan remains unregulated, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum. | After 21 years of civil war, water transport in southern Sudan remains unregulated, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum. |
Most boats lack safety equipment, says our correspondent. | Most boats lack safety equipment, says our correspondent. |
The military steam boat had no maps or lights or maps, said Lt Col Stephen Chan Along. | The military steam boat had no maps or lights or maps, said Lt Col Stephen Chan Along. |
It was travelling on the wrong channel of the river Nile at 2000 (1700 GMT) when the accident occurred near the village of Melut, in Upper Nile State, he said. | It was travelling on the wrong channel of the river Nile at 2000 (1700 GMT) when the accident occurred near the village of Melut, in Upper Nile State, he said. |
The area is part of Sudan so ravaged by war that the river is often the only way of getting around, says our correspondent. | The area is part of Sudan so ravaged by war that the river is often the only way of getting around, says our correspondent. |
Eyewitnesses said the bodies were lined up along the banks of the Nile. | Eyewitnesses said the bodies were lined up along the banks of the Nile. |
The SPLA now runs southern Sudan after last year's peace deal. | The SPLA now runs southern Sudan after last year's peace deal. |