At least 17 killed after boat capsizes in Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal

At least 17 women were killed and more than 40 others injured after a small boat capsized in central Senegal, local media reported on Tuesday.

The accident occurred in an island village located in the Fatick region at around 1900 GMT on Monday, RFM radio reported.

The boat was carrying about 60 people, including 51 women. The injured are being treated at the Bettenty health center, according to the witness interviewed by RFM.

The cause of the accident is not known but a witness quoted by the radio attributed it to the agitation of the sea.

Central Senegal has several island villages. The inhabitants often move around with canoes without wearing safety vests.