The death toll from one of the worst ever river boat sinkings in Mali has jumped to 39, including many young children, local officials and state media said Sunday.
Rescuers were still hunting along the Niger river for the missing after the tragedy struck overnight Friday in central Mali, while survivors hailed local villagers for preventing an even heavier death toll.
"Until now, 32 bodies have been recovered but there are still people in the water we are searching for," said Ibrahim Waigalo, a councillor in the village of Koubi near the site of the accident.
The state broadcaster ORTM said later that the provisional toll had risen to 39 and that the search for more bodies would continue on Monday.
Rescuers were still hunting along the Niger river for the missing after the tragedy struck overnight Friday in central Mali, while survivors hailed local villagers for preventing an even heavier death toll.
"Until now, 32 bodies have been recovered but there are still people in the water we are searching for," said Ibrahim Waigalo, a councillor in the village of Koubi near the site of the accident.
The state broadcaster ORTM said later that the provisional toll had risen to 39 and that the search for more bodies would continue on Monday.
