At least 18 people died when a pirogue carrying passengers on the River Niger in central Mali capsized on Wednesday, said a spokesman for the country's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
There were four missing and 70 survivors from the accident that took place around 5am (1am EDT) in the rural community of Deboye in Mopti region's Bangou locality, spokesman Sounkolo Togola told Reuters.
A security source said overcrowding was a likely cause. Boats on Africa's lakes and rivers are often stacked with people and trade goods, and poor maintenance and overcrowding are a frequent cause of accidents.
