Nongoa pirogue shipwreck leaves two dead and one missing

A motorized pirogue capsized on the Makona River near Nongoa, Guinea, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, resulting in at least two deaths and one person reported missing. The vessel was transporting passengers, many of whom were Sierra Leonean nationals returning from a weekly market, across the river toward Sierra Leone.

Local authorities, including Nongoa Mayor Gabriel Bongono, reported that the accident occurred around 2:00 PM. Preliminary accounts suggest the engine may have failed, causing the boat to drift and strike a tree, or that water began infiltrating the vessel. Out of approximately 43 people on board, 41 were rescued. The confirmed fatalities include a woman and a child approximately 18 months old.

The mayor noted that the use of life jackets by passengers likely prevented a higher death toll. Following the incident, health authorities from Guéckédou dispatched vehicles to evacuate the injured to medical facilities. The accident has renewed calls for the rehabilitation and increased security of this river crossing, which serves as a vital link between Guinea and Sierra Leone.