A Pampa
The head of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration says a collision between two boats off the shores of the coastal town of Tagrin, outside Freetown has left three people dead and a pregnant woman in a critical condition.
Alhaji Wuror Jalloh told Politico that a conventional boat belonging to the iron ore miner, African Minerals Limited (AML), hit a heavily-loaded locally-built dugout canoe (Pam Pa) after 7 PM local time on Saturday and smashed it.
Speaking from the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown just a few moments ago, he said the three bodies were lying on the shores at Tagrin while 41 people had been rescued and brought to Freetown.
Jalloh said rescue operation was still ongoing involving a naval boat and a ports authority tug boat.
Asked how many people were onboard the ill-fated boat, he said they were yet to lay hands on the manifest but suspected that many others were still unaccounted for among them children.
A source at the Ports Authority has told Politico that several dozen people are feared dead.
A spokesman for African Minerals says they do not own any vessel in the country. Speaking to Politico, Anthony Navo says, however, that they have a contractor vessel - BELTSHIP - which he says also works for other companies.
He says they are investigating the matter.
Dugout canoes in Sierra Leone are largely unregulated - often overloaded and without safety gears. This, despite being the main means of travel between Freetown and riverine areas dotted along the coastline.
(C) Politico Online 28/12/13
