UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC evacuates survivors of a shipwreck in Mbandaka
MONUC evacuated approximately 280 passengers on 2 February to Mbandaka after surviving a fire which broke out in a whaleboat on 29 January, in Lukolela, a village situated 150 km South of Mbandaka.
Two MONUC speedboats and one helicopter were dispatched to Lukolela upon receiving the news about the disaster and rescued 180 men, 70 women and 30 children. The total number of passengers remains unknown. According to the survivors, the whaleboat carried nearly 500 passengers 200 of whom are reported missing. Some witnesses however indicated that passengers reached Mbandaka on board other ships. MONUC has recovered four bodies in the area around Lukolela. Moreover, five people, two of whom are severely burned, were rushed to the Mbandaka hospital.
The whaleboat was coming from Makoti Mpoko, a village in Congo Brazzaville, when the fire broke out from one of the engines. All the items on board were destroyed in the fire. The passengers that MONUC was able to rescue made for the shore, waiting to be evacuated to Mbandaka.
The whaleboat was coming from Makoti Mpoko, a village in Congo Brazzaville, when the fire broke out from one of the engines. All the items on board were destroyed in the fire. The passengers that MONUC was able to rescue made for the shore, waiting to be evacuated to Mbandaka.
