The African version of the "Titanic" sank for 20 years, causing more than 1,800 people to die, and the family members are still running for the salvage ship.

Jimu Journalist Li Manying

According to the BBC report on September 26, on September 26, 2002, all the "Le Joola" ships of the Senegal administration were covered on the coast of Gantal, causing more than 1,800 people to die, and only 64 people were spared. This is the worst and non -war in history, and the number of victims surpassed the Titanic.

Twenty years have passed, and the families of the victims are still calling for the wreckage from the sea.

"LEJOOLA" ship (picture source: Getty Picture Club)

"Africa Titanic" overloaded

Official data show that on September 26, 2002, the Joola ship with a nuclear number of 550 people set off, and the actual number of passengers reached 1927. When it was covered, only 64 people survived. Because the number of victims was more than the Titanic, which was covered in 1912, the incident also became one of the worst maritime points in history.

According to the survivor's testimony, after the ship arrived in Gambia's collar, the ship was finally covered in the heavy rain. The accident happened at night, and it was raining at the time. Many passengers had no chance to escape. They were trapped under the water and more than 1,800 people were killed.

In 2002, the "Lejoola" ship was covered (picture source: Getty Pictures)

As one of the survivors, Lamine Coly said that 35 people in their village were on this ship, and he was the only survivor. "When the ship is full, they are still loading passengers and luggage." Lamaming Cori said that the boat was too full and could not move when he encountered heavy rain.

"After the ship was overturned, the lights in the boat were extinguished, and we were completely in the dark." After a long time of struggle, Lamin Cori finally climbed up the covered hull. He was the first to climb out. He heard crying around.

"It's completely confused. You don't know who to save. The screams continue. Some people struggling out by the waves are also rolled away by the waves. You watch people die in front of you," Lamami Cori said.

Mariama Diouf is the only woman in the accident. She said that she would swim from 7 years old. After the ship was covered, she was the last person who escaped from the ship and climbed into the hull.

"At 4 am the next day, we can still hear some crying sounds." Mariama Dowov said that there was a white survivor who climbed up the hull, but his wife was still in the ship. He used it outside. The ring knocked the hull and tried to bring hope to the people inside. However, at 7 am on September 27, 2002, they could not hear any screams or crying.

Relatively lagging rescue

American Pat Wiley spent 10 years to investigate the JOOLA shipwreck tragedy. In 2013, he published his works to share his discovery.

According to Pat Willie, the ship was not only overloaded, but its condition at the time did not meet the conditions of going to sea. Due to mechanical failure, the ship was forced to stop going to sea from September 2001 to September 2002. Two weeks before the tragedy, he returned to the sea. Pat also pointed out that the ship was not equipped with a life jacket or operating boat.

In addition, rescue is relatively lagging. It was not until 7:45 am on the 27th that the news of the shipwreck was confirmed. At about 11 am, the rescuers arrived at the scene.

Why is it so lagging on the alarm and rescue? There is no answer so far.

However, the survivors and the families of the victims gave their response.

Ellie Diata's brother Michel Diata was killed in a shipwreck accident. He said that rescuers did not rescue anyone. "The government later knew it was negligent." Silvidiata, who lost his father in the accident.

"Without help, we have been in the water. If we can be rescued early, there will not be so many people die." Mariama Dowov recalled that a total of 22 people were rescued by fishermen.

The family members of the victims are still calling for salvage shipping ship

After the shipwreck accident, some officials in Senegal resigned.

In August 2003, the Senegal administration, which had promised sanctions, announced that it would not file a criminal lawsuit and blame the tragedy responsibility on the disappearance of the captain Isadiala who was missing in the accident. Over the years, the Senegal government has compensated the victims.

People commemorate the victims in the cemetery (Picture Source: Getty Picture Club)

"To this day, there is no truth and no justice, our parents continue to stay with the shipwreck on the bottom of the sea." Elie Diatta, the family of the victims, said that although the government has worked hard to cure the wounds of their souls, he And many families of the victims still hope to salvage the shipwreck, so as not to let the loved ones stay on the bottom of the sea to "suffer."

The head coach of the Senegal National Football Team and the African champion Ariwu Satay lost 11 family members in the shipwreck accident. He also delivered the same speech: "Salvation of shipwreck can make some people living today better, even if this is very Complicated, but at least, at a certain time, they can fall asleep safely. I think they are waiting for this ship to reside again. "

"Our parents should get more respect. We must let them restore their dignity as human beings. Bringing them away from the ocean, we can also mourn." A family member of the victims said.

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