The Minister of Transport resigns after the sinking of a ship off the coast of Gabon

March 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Gabonese Minister of Transport, Brice Constant Paillat, presented his resignation to the country’s president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, on Thursday, after the sinking of a ship last week off the coast of Gabon, which left at least 21 dead and 16 missing. .

“The delegate minister of Transport will ensure the processing of current affairs until the appointment of a new minister,” reads a statement from the Ministry, which adds that the Gabonese president has accepted the resignation, according to the AGP news agency.

The announcement comes after the ‘Esther Miracle’, a mixed passenger and cargo ship operated by Royal Cost Marine, sank off the coast of Gabon. On board the vessel were 161 passengers, of whom 124 were successfully rescued.

The boat, which linked the capital of Gabon, Libreville, with Port-Gentil, the second largest city in the country, sank during the night from Wednesday the 8th to Thursday the 9th. The authorities confirmed an initial balance of six deaths, which later has risen to 21.