The local authorities in Warrap State’s Gogrial West County on Friday said a woman identified as Nyibol Kuol Nyuol and her baby drowned in the Kuom River on Wednesday.
The woman’s body was recovered on Thursday, and the baby’s on Friday.
John Akeen, the close relative of the deceased, told Radio Tamzuj on Thursday that the bodies of the lactating mother and her baby were found in Nyin-Chum Village after a frantic search by residents of the village.
“This is the first wife of my brother, and she has four children, including the one who died. Her name is Nyibol Kuol, 36. She was going to Rum-maluil Village at 5 p.m. when she drowned in the river,” he explained. “There were three women with their children, and one woman was rowing the boat. When the water current became too fast, they fell into the water, but the other two women with their babies survived. Only my brother’s wife and her baby, unfortunately, died.”
“When I received the tragic call, I rushed to the riverside using a boat because the area is flooded, and when I arrived at Nyin-Chum Village with other rescuers, we managed to find the woman’s body on Thursday, and today, Friday, villagers helped us and we found the baby’s body floating,” Akeen added.
Wek Koor, the Gogrial West County Commissioner, confirmed the incident and warned people to be cautious when crossing rivers. He said some boats are old and not safe.
“I received a report from local authorities in the Keet administrative unit that seven people were using a small boat to cross the river, but that it overturned,” he said. “The deceased just boarded a boat that was being rowed by another woman who had no experience and recklessly took it to fast waters.”
Commissioner Koor said the woman who was in charge of the boat has since been arrested.
“I urged the people of Gogrial West County, especially those living near rivers, not to pick up any packed boat and use it because it could be leaking and in a bad condition. Look for the real owner and a professional sailor [coxswain] before you board a boat.”