Cameroonians Among 32 Passengers in Capsized Boat
14 Cameroonians Rescued, 3 Dead and 13 Missing
Authorities Investigate Involvement of Locals in Boat Theft
P&O Cruise Ship Joins Search for Passengers of Capsized Boat
A boat carrying 32 passengers, including a group of Cameroonians seeking refuge, capsized off the coast of the Caribbean island, St. Kitts. The group had left from Antigua on a stolen boat en route to the U.S Virgin Islands. The boat was dangerously overcrowded when it started sinking about 40 miles northwest of Antigua.
Among the group were 14 Cameroonians who were rescued, but three were found dead, and 13 remain missing. The nationalities of those who perished or missing are unknown. Authorities announced plans to investigate the incident, focusing on the theft of the boat, and any possible involvement of locals.
Cameroon has been marred by conflict since 2017 with over 3,300 people dead and more than 750,000 displaced according to UN figures. Since then many Cameroonians have sought refuge elsewhere in Africa or beyond their continent’s borders.
The group had arrived in Antigua as tourists a week ago but intended to travel onwards to other countries. Their aim was to seek asylum from Cameroonian military violence; a fact confirmed by the Prime Minister of Antigua who expressed sympathy for them and granted them temporary residency.
Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has contacted the UN High Commission for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration for advice on how to help those Cameroonians seeking refuge.
In an unrelated incident, A passenger on board P&O’s flagship “Britannia,” died while snorkeling with his family in the Caribbean just hours before the boat capsized.
The P&O cruise ship has joined the search and rescue mission, along with another vessel. The ship’s crew is providing assistance to the coastguard. The Britannia is the flagship of P&O’s fleet, which has 13 restaurants, 13 bars, and 1,837 cabins on board.
This tragic event highlights the plight of many Cameroonians fleeing conflict-torn regions in their country. The survivors will receive support from local authorities while efforts are made to locate those still missing in the wake of this disaster.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
