Ivory Coast Boat Capsizing: Search Continues for 11 Missing After Hippo Attack

A desperate search is underway in southwestern Ivory Coast for eleven people, including women, children, and an infant, after a hippopotamus capsized their boat on the Sassandra River this past Friday. The incident occurred near the town of Buyo, as the narrow, canoe-like vessel was making its way along the waterway.

Myss Belmonde Dogo, Ivory Coast’s Minister for National Cohesion and Solidarity, confirmed the tragic event on her Facebook page, stating that three individuals survived the capsizing and were successfully rescued. Efforts are ongoing to locate the missing victims.

This latest incident underscores the significant danger posed by hippopotamuses in the region. A 2022 study by Ivory Coast university researchers identified hippos as the species most frequently involved in fatal or injurious human interactions within the country. An estimated 500 hippos inhabit Ivory Coast’s southern rivers, particularly the Sassandra and Bandama watercourses. The country also frequently experiences boat accidents due to overloaded handcrafted vessels navigating between riverside communities.

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