11 people drowned near the Sudanese capital

August 4, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Eleven people drowned today near the Sudanese capital when a boat carrying them sank, Sudanese police said.

Around 40 people had been on board the ferry, some 40 kilometres north of the capital Khartoum, when the engine suddenly cut out and the boat began to sink, a police statement said.

The overcrowded boat sank off Islanj Island north of Khartoum. The 11 passengers died and other 29 passengers were saved.

The boat had been overloaded when the 40 farmers boarded it with their goods.

Several Khartoum state ministers and the commissioner of Karrary district as well as police officials paid a visit to Islanj Island after the incident.

(ST)