Guwahati News Desk: At least 85 people have lost their lives in a shipwreck that took place in Madagascar on Monday.
According to recent reports, 45 of the passengers are still missing.
Meanwhile, the search for the remaining continues.
Regarding the tragic event, it took place after a wooden vessel, believed to be a cargo boat not authorised to carry passengers, came to grief off the island’s northeastern coast early on Monday with an estimated 130 people on board.
In addition, the vessel had set off from the village of Antseraka and was heading towards Soanierana-Ivongo, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the south.
Moreover as suggested by Adrien Fabrice Ratsimbazafy of the River and Maritime Port Agency (APMF), the vessel’s engine had a “technical problem.”
According to him, the issue had left the boat vulnerable to the waves and caused it to run aground on a reef, where it took on water.
In addition, within hours of the disaster a police helicopter was sent with the Police Minister Serge Gelle onboard to inspect the site of the shipwreck and to help with the search and rescue mission at the sea.
However, their helicopter crashed at the sea during the mission on Monday night.
According to sources, Gelle swam for 12 hours in order to save his life and was successful in reaching the land a day later.
Furthermore, the security official who was travelling with him in the helicopter also survived the crash.