7 schoolgirls drown as boat capsizes in Guinea

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – At least seven schoolgirls drowned after their boat capsized in the Niger River near the town of Kouroussa in upper Guinea, officials said on Monday.

The students were going to take a college entrance exam when their canoe, a wooden boat, capsized in the river, Guillaume Hawing, minister for pre-university education and literacy, told reporters, expressing shock over the death of students.

The "makeshift" boat bound for Balato was carrying a total of 10 students who were on their way to Kouroussa on Sunday to take the college entrance exams scheduled for Monday, according to the Guinean Press Agency (AGP).

Sidya Toure, the former prime minister of this West African country, confirmed the death of 10 students in a tweet on Monday.

"It's shocking," he said.

Moussa Keita, the Kouroussa district chief, was quoted by the Guinean press earlier as saying that the "motorized" boat capsized in the morning with 14 people on board.

According to Keita, the bodies were retrieved by fishermen.