2009 Sierra Leone ferry accident
Maritime disaster in Sierra Leone / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about 2009 Sierra Leone ferry accident?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The 2009 Sierra Leone ferry accident occurred on 8 September 2009 off the coast of Sierra Leone, when a wooden Teh Teh[1] ferry travelling from Shenge village to Tombo sank during a storm. At least 90 people to date have been confirmed dead, and over 100 others have been listed as "missing".[2] So far, only 39 survivors have been rescued.[3] Several of the passengers were children who had been on holiday,[3] though the official passenger manifest did not include them.[1] An attempted rescue operation ended on 11 September.[2] The sinking is the worst such accident in Sierra Leone since 2002, when a boatful of refugees capsized.[1][4] The Xinhua News Agency in China has likened the disaster to other major marine accidents in recent years.[1][5]
Sierra Leone's police initially indicated there were only 150 people on the ferry when it sank; however, it has since been determined that there were far more aboard.[6] There were actually about 200 passengers who had booked passage on the stricken boat; moreover, the captain allowed extra passengers to board, placing the true figure in doubt.[2] Sierra Leone's transport ministry has suggested there may have been 300 people on board.[1]