The unfortunate event took place when a hippo attacked a boat carrying over 30 villagers across the Shire River, causing it to capsize. Agnes Zalakoma, a police spokesperson, reported that the incident occurred early on Monday.
Regrettably, 23 out of the 37 passengers on the boat are missing and feared to have perished in the water, which is known to be inhabited by crocodiles and hippos.
From CNN:
Rescuers are continuing searching for the missing persons, Zalakoma’s statement added.
Zalakoma told CNN Tuesday that it was dangerous to cross the river and accidents are common.
“It is too dangerous because it (the river) is too shallow and in this river there are crocodiles that most of the time attack people and also hippopotamus that cause incidents like the one we’re dealing with,” Zalakoma said.
According to a lawmaker for the Nsanje district, Gladys Ganda, the villagers were crossing the Shire River to get to their farms at the Malawian border with Mozambique when their boat was hit by a hippo.
Hippos are one of the world’s most dangerous animals, and they can snap a canoe in half with their strong jaws, according to National Geographic.
They are found naturally in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in east and southern Africa.
Hippo attacks are also common in sub-Saharan Africa. In December, a two-year-old Ugandan boy was attacked by a hippo which swallowed half of his body before spitting him out, Uganda’s police said.
This is an incredibly heartbreaking situation. It is startling to realize the true danger posed by hippos.
