March 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
At least six people have died and 31 are missing after a ship sank off the coast of Gabon five days ago.
According to data from the country’s authorities, 124 people — out of a total of 161 who were on board — have been successfully rescued, according to the AGP news agency.
The president of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, declared three days of national mourning on Monday “to accompany all the families who have been hit in thought and prayer”, reported ‘L’Union’.
After that, the government spokesman, Yves Fernand Manfoumbi, has announced to suspend the activities of the company responsible for the ship as a precaution, since the state of the ships of the shipping company have been denounced on previous occasions.
The Esther Miracle, a mixed passenger and cargo ship operated by Royal Cost Marine, linking Gabon’s capital Libreville with Port-Gentil, the country’s second-largest city, sank overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, according to the said agency.