The coordinator of rescue efforts reported on Tuesday that search crews in Gabon have found the bodies of 15 people from a ferry that drowned off the coast of the West African nation last week, raising the preliminary death toll to 21.
When the Esther Miracle boat sank on March 9, not far from the seaside community of Nyonie, it was transporting 161 people from Libreville to Port-Gentil.
On Monday, six deaths were officially reported, and 31 people were still missing, according to the authorities. Diving teams and air force planes were dispatched to conduct daily search operations.
Bekale Meyong, who is in charge of the rescue efforts, announced on state television on Tuesday that 124 people had been saved and 21 had been determined to be dead after 15 more bodies had been pulled from the debris.
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He stated that search efforts are continuing and that ambulances have brought the dead to morgues.
On the incident's causes, the government has not yet made any comments.
At the port in Libreville, a Reuters reporter observed the bodies being removed in body bags from a boat. Several families raced over to identify them before authorities prevented entrance.
Esther Mvou identified two family members among the dead and said, "At least now we can plan their funerals. She recognized one of them as Mvou's sister thanks to the black tank top that the woman was sporting when she left Libreville.
After the boat sank, hundreds gathered at Libreville port to conduct vigils to support grieving family members waiting for news.
The government is criticized for its delayed response time and for downplaying the severity of the tragedy, claiming that the ship was carrying more passengers than was stated.
Unsubstantiated claims have been that the ship was packed with vehicles, animals, and other goods. Ferries in Gabon are frequently overcrowded.
A government spokesperson, Yves Fernand Manfoumbi, told Reuters over the phone that he did not know about the claims or comments to make.
