A boat capsized while crossing a river in eastern Afghanistan on the morning of June 1, 2024, resulting in the deaths of several people. The information was confirmed by Quraishi Badlon, the provincial director of the information and culture department as reported by APNews.
The incident occurred in the Mohmand Dara district of Nangarhar province, along Afghanistan’s eastern border with Pakistan. Nangarhar is known for its rich agricultural lands and is a critical transit point for trade between the two countries. It is strategically and economically significant due to its proximity to Pakistan.
The boat, carrying at least 25 individuals, including women and children, was navigating the river when it sank. Badlon reported that five people survived the tragic event. The Nangarhar health department has confirmed that among the recovered bodies were a man, a woman, two boys, and a girl. Rescue operations are ongoing as officials continue to search for the remaining victims.
Due to the absence of bridges, residents of the area frequently use handmade boats to travel between villages and markets. The cause of the accident has not been determined yet, and local authorities have yet to provide further details on the investigation.
“Efforts are still underway to find others while a medical team and ambulances were sent to the area,” said the Nangarhar health department. The incident is part of a broader context of challenges faced by Afghanistan, including recent heavy rains that have triggered massive flooding across different parts of the country.
The extensive flooding in several regions of Afghanistan has contributed to hazardous conditions for travelers. The lack of infrastructure, such as bridges, forces residents to rely on makeshift boats, which are prone to accidents. Improving infrastructure and finding safer means of transportation is critical to preventing future tragedies.
On June 3, 2024, Agence France-Presse, in contrast to APNews’ initial reporting, revised the death toll of the incident, saying that eight people were killed and two were still missing. Sixteen people were rescued, some injured and taken to hospital. The boat had been overloaded, causing water to overflow and stop the engine, according to provincial deputy governor Saeed Ahmad Banawri.
The Nangarhar health department and local officials work tirelessly to recover the remaining bodies and support the affected families.