Eleven people are missing on the southwestern C elelpy coast after a hippopotamus overturned the small boat on which they were on board the Sassandra River, the Solidarity Ministry said today.

“We were informed of the disappearance of 11 people, including women, little girls and an infant, after sinking a ship caused by a hippopotamus,” Minister Miss Belmod Dogo said on her facebook page.

The accident occurred on Friday morning, near the Bougio community, he added, clarifying that three people were saved and that “investigations are continuing in the hope of finding the missing”.

According to a study of Civil Coast Universities, 2022, hippopotamus is the animal most commonly referred to as culprits in events where people lose their lives or people are injured. It is estimated that there are about 500 hippopotamuses in the country, scattered on many rivers, but mainly in Sassandra and Bantama.

Murder wrecks are not uncommon in the area, often because boats used for passengers are overloaded. In April, twelve children and adolescents drowned when such a boat sank near Abidzan.