A French ship sank off the coast of Madagascar

Transporter France, who illegally carried 130 passengers, sank on Monday at the north-east coast of Madagascar; 39 people died, 45 were rescued, and about 50 are wanted," reported the Euronews portal on Wednesday. The helicopter was also sent to rescue.

Francia's ship sailed from a port in the town of Antanambe in northeastern Madagascar. Picked course south to the port of Soanierana Ivongo. Francia was registered as a transport carrier, which means he was not authorized to carry passengers. Antanambe is not an official port – the head of the Madagascar River and Marine Ports Agency Jean Edmond Randrianantenaina has forwarded to Reuter.

The probable cause of the ship's sinking was a hole in the hull.

"According to the information we were able to collect, the water entered the engine room. Her level began to rise and it covered all the engines. Then the ship began to sink," Randrianantenain said.

Three naval units and a naval agency were assigned to the site of the disaster.

A helicopter was also sent to the coastal town of Antseraka, near the sinking site of the transport, but it did not reach there on Tuesday, and fell into the sea. There were four on board. persons: Madagascar State Secretary, Minister of Police, gendarme and pilot. Gendarm and pilot are wanted, and Secretary of State and Police Minister Serge Gelle have been rescued.

They were found separately by local residents on the beach in Mahambo, 75 km north of Toamasina, the main port town in eastern Madagascar. Gelle sailed to shore about 12 hours after the helicopter accident. In a video on social media, on which he rests on a hammock, he thanked the residents and fishermen of Mahambo. He also announced that he would return to work within 24 hours. A 57-year-old MP reported that he had suffered no injuries.

Source: PAP