An overladen ship crammed with thousands of sheep sank in Sudan’s Red Sea port of Suakin drowning the animals on board but with all crew surviving, port officials said. The livestock vessel was exporting the animals from Sudan to Saudi Arabia when it sank after several thousand more animals were loaded on board than it was meant to carry.
“The ship, Badr 1, sank during the early hours of Sunday morning,” a senior Sudanese port official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It was carrying 15,800 sheep, which was beyond its load limits.” The official said the ship was supposed to carry only 9,000 sheep. Another official, who said that all crew were rescued, raised concerns over the economic and environmental impact of the accident.
“The sunken ship will affect the port’s operation,” the official said. – AFP