At least 15 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger ferry capsized on the River Nile in northern Sudan, according to BBC News. The ferry was carrying more than 27 passengers, including women, children and the elderly, when it overturned on Wednesday in the Shendi district of River Nile State. 

The Sudan Doctors Network, a voluntary medical group that tracks wartime incidents, said rescue teams and local residents were searching for survivors and the missing. So far, 15 bodies have been recovered and six people are known to have survived, the group reported, while several others remain unaccounted for. 

Eyewitnesses and local reports suggest the wooden ferry may have capsized due to challenging river conditions, including strong waves. The organisation described the incident as a “painful tragedy” and pointed to the limited safety measures and weak regulation of river transport in Sudan. 

River crossings by boat remain a common mode of transport in many rural parts of Sudan, where bridges are few and basic safety standards are often overlooked. In recent years, similar accidents have occurred in the region, raising longstanding concerns about waterway safety. 

Officials have not yet released a formal casualty list or detailed statement on the causes of the accident. Rescue efforts continue as authorities and medical volunteers work to locate missing passengers.