The Acting Regional Police Commander of the Southern Region, Chief Superintendent Kapr S. Kamara, acting upon information received from the Local Unit Commander of Moyamba Division, intimated the police leadership, that at approximately 1300 hours of 14/12/18, the ferry at Mabang crossing point, sank into the river with three motorbikes and one vehicle (Benz 814), loaded with 120 bags of cement; presumably from Freetown. The registration number of the vehicle is yet known.
According to one of the ferry operators (Abdul Sesay), the ferry is suspected to have sunk with three persons onboard. The Police and the Military are participating in the search for corpses and/or survivors.
Update on the Mabang Ferry Disaster*
At around midday today, the Mabang ferry sank with about 30 passengers, a vehicle and some motorbikes.
According to eyewitnesses, a heavy vehicle with about 150 bags of cement and a ton of iron rods was attempting to board the ferry when one of the ramps of the ferry broke. This shifted the ferry further into the water and the vehicle eventually drove into the water with some of its contents leaning on the ferry causing the ferry to sank along.
Some of the passengers managed to swim ashore but many are still missing. The locals mounted a search but could only recover motorbikes and few other property. So far, no external team of search and rescue at the river.
Police arrived at the scene early but could only arrest the driver and some of those managing the ferry.
Commuters are now stranded at both ends of the river or they will have to use canoes with no life jackets to cross the river
