At least 18 people have died after a boat capsized in the Far North Region of Cameroon, a local authority has told Reuters News Agency.
The accident occurred on Thursday, November 28, after a wooden boat transporting people caught up in floods capsized in a lake around Darak, near the border with Chad.
The Divisional Officer of Darak, Mamat Zarma, told Reuters the boat was hit by violent winds before capsizing.
“So far, we have recovered the bodies of five women and 13 men,” he said, adding that operations were ongoing.
Floods have rocked the Far North Region for several months now, making boat travel the norm for residents.
The floods have destroyed hundreds of houses, roads and swept away farms, leaving thousands homeless and without food or clean water.
The floods, caused by torrential rains that started in August, have affected more than 360,000 people, killed multiple people and damaged thousands of social infrastructure, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Consequences of the floods are dire among local residents, and access to basic amenities remains far-fetched.
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