LUANDA: Four people lost their lives in a tragic boat sinking on Luanda Island, also known as ‘Ilha do Cabo,’ during an event organized by the Catholic Church, as reported by the provincial commander of the Civil Protection and Fire Service, Hermínio Cazucuto, on Sunday. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, involved a vessel that was not part of the planned procession for the Parish of Our Lady of the Island, leading to its unfortunate capsizing with nearly 30 individuals on board.
According to Angola Press News Agency, of the approximately 30 occupants, 17 were rescued and received medical attention. The rescue operation was carried out by a multisectoral force, including personnel from the Civil Protection and Fire Service, the National Police, the Angolan Navy, the Captaincy of Luanda, and INEMA. The casualties included two adults and two children, while four of the 13 rescued individuals remain under medical observation at the Endiama Clinic.
Hermínio Casaputo explained that several boats present a
t the time of the shipwreck assisted in the rescue efforts, retrieving individuals who did not require medical intervention and were promptly reunited with their families. While no formal complaints or declarations of missing persons have been made, it is believed that most passengers were from the same family nucleus, related to the ship’s master. Among the deceased were close family members, including the mother, daughter, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law of the ship’s driver.
Search operations are ongoing, with hopes that no additional victims will be discovered. There is concern that people may be trapped by the vessel’s net, which complicates the rescue efforts. Despite these challenges, authorities maintain optimism that the current death toll will not increase.