At least 21 people have died after a passenger boat sank in River Nile State, northern Sudan, on Wednesday evening.
The vessel, carrying nearly 30 passengers—including women, children, and elderly people—was travelling between the villages of Tayba al Khawad and Deim al Qarai when it capsized in the Shendi area, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. Six people were reported rescued.
“Rescue teams are continuing with their work since there could be more bodies,” said Mohamed Faisal Hassan, spokesperson for the Sudan Doctors Network, speaking to the BBC. Eyewitnesses reported that high waves struck the boat before it overturned.
The Sudan Doctors Network urged authorities to deploy specialised rescue teams and equipment to speed up recovery efforts, while also calling for urgent reforms to improve safety on the Nile. “This painful humanitarian tragedy once again reveals the fragility of river transport and the absence of basic safety requirements,” the group said.
Hassan noted that weak regulation of river transport may have contributed to the disaster. Many boats on the Nile are privately owned and often lack proper oversight or safety systems. Authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Accidents involving traditional boats are common in Sudan, where bridges are scarce and river crossings are a daily necessity in rural communities. The disaster occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has displaced millions and weakened basic services since April 2023.
Although River Nile State has largely avoided frontline combat, the broader instability has strained public services and infrastructure. Families in Tayba al Khawad and Deim al Qarai are now mourning the dead while awaiting news of those still missing, as search teams continue combing the river.
