20 years after the Jolla catastrophe in Senegal, the households of the victims are nonetheless unable to grieve
On this model we glance again at a horrific shipwreck with a demise toll heavier than the Titanic. On September 26, 2002, the Jola catastrophe claimed the lives of at the very least 1,800 folks, the ferry was crusing between the Senegalese province of Casamance and the capital Dakar, and in the course of the night time, 40 kilometers from the coast, the boat capsized after colliding with it.
Tropical rain and robust winds. It took greater than 16 hours for assist to reach on the scene. Solely 64 passengers survived the night time of hell. Sarah Sakho and Sam Bradbes of France 24 revisit the tragedy, 20 years later.
The Jolla catastrophe had a number of causes. The ship, operated by the Senegalese Navy, was in poor situation. It was loaded with greater than 4 instances the utmost variety of passengers allowed. Vehicles in inventory will not be insured. The ferry captain, who himself died, undoubtedly made a navigational error.
The households of the victims have all the time tried to search out out the reality about what occurred, some filed a criticism towards the Senegalese authorities for “negligence”, however the case was closed in 2003, and authorized proceedings additionally started right here in France, the place many victims started to descend from, however they didn’t succeed.
Twenty years later, the households of the victims proceed their wrestle to make sure that the Gula catastrophe is just not forgotten. Specifically, they need to transfer the shipwreck off the seabed to allow them to begin grieving correctly.
