This Day in History: March 23, 2005
Additional Date: March 23, 2005
A boat carrying over 150 people on its way to Gabon capsized on the Atlantic coast of Cameroon on 23 March 2005. 130 passengers are said to have drowned and only 23 survived. The boat had departed Oron, Nigeria on its way to Port Gentil , Gabon with passengers from Nigeria, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The boat is reported to have been made of wood, was extremely overloaded and is believed to have come apart at high seas. The passengers were on their way to Gabon to look for work.