Sierra Leone boat capsizes with 150 aboard, police say 8 confirmed dead

Sierra Leone boat capsizes, 8 dead

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Police in Sierra Leone say a boat carrying 150 people has capsized on a river near the coast of the West African nation, killing at least eight people.

Deputy Police Inspector General Morie Lengor says 36 people have been rescued so far.

Lengor said Wednesday the boat was on the Rokel river traveling from the village of Shenge to Tombo, near Freetown, when the accident occurred. He said police and military forces were conducting a rescue mission for the remaining passengers.

Lengor said, “Police suspect that the cause of the accident for now may be due to overloading or engine failure.”