JUBBA (Halbeeg News) – At least 11 people have died after a small passenger plane crashed into a river in South Sudan on Sunday.
The chartered aircraft which was ferrying close to 20 passengers from Juba International Airport was en route to the city of Yirol in Eastern Lakes State when the incident occurred.
“We are still removing bodies from the water because the aircraft fell into a river,” Reuters quoted a witness as saying.
“So far, in front of me, there are six bodies recovered from the water.”
Other reports said up to 17 people were killed in the crashed.
Radio Miraya, an FM station owned and operated by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), quoting the governor of Eastern Lakes State, reported that only three people survived the crash.
UPDATE: Here is a wreckage of an aircraft that plunged into Yirol River in Lakes state of #SouthSudan killing scores. Among the dead is an #Italian doctor and the Bishop of Yirol @unmissmedia @UNRIC_Italia @shiine2054 @IreneLasu @SebitWilliamKer @GShadar pic.twitter.com/OM41OFVI4n
— Radio Miraya (@RadioMiraya) September 9, 2018
Among the survivors is an Italian doctor working with a local NGO, according to local sources.
Officials said they are investigating the cause of Sunday’s crash.
“We have not yet established full details of the airline but what we know it is a 19-seater plane coming from Juba to Yirol this morning,” Taban Abel Aguek, regional information minister for the Eastern Great Lakes state, told AFP news agency.
“When it arrived the weather was so foggy and when it tried to land it crashed… It’s so sad. Many people on board are feared dead. We are still establishing details,” he added.
Among the survivors is an Italian doctor working with a local NGO, according to local sources.
Halbeeg News and Agencies
Discussion about this post