ABIDJAN, Sept. 7– Eleven people were missing after a canoe capsized Friday on the Sassandra River in Buyo town, southwestern Cote d’Ivoire, a senior official has said.
“It is with profound sorrow that we have learned of the disappearance of 11 people, including women, young girls and an infant, following the capsizing of a canoe caused by a hippopotamus,” Minister of National Cohesion, Solidarity and the Fight Against Poverty Myss Belmonde Dogo said in a press release on Saturday.
Local authorities said the tragedy occurred early Friday morning when a hippopotamus attacked the canoe. The vessel was carrying 14 people, three of whom were rescued. Search efforts were still underway to locate the missing. (Xinhua)
