The small boat that capsized off Sierra Leone’s coast with about 150 people on board was not carrying lifejackets, the information minister says.“The rules were violated, the boat did not carry lifejackets and people died,” Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo told the BBC.
The vessel with an outboard motor meant for about 25 people was carrying children returning from their holidays.
A naval rescue mission continued into the night. So far 46 people have been saved and eight confirmed dead.
It was travelling a sea route of about 65km (40 miles) along the coast from the town of Shenge to the village of Tombo near the capital, Freetown.
“Rescue operations are being conducted by the maritime naval patrol team and in addition local fishermen and other volunteers are all searching frantically at the scene of the disaster in the hope of rescuing more bodies,” police spokesman Ibrahim Samura told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.
The BBC’s Lansana Fofana in Freetown says the vessel has not been found and all fishing activities near Tombo have stopped.
Hundreds of people have gathered there waiting for news, he says.
Relatives are in considerable distress, many crying and wailing.