After a shipwreck off the coast of Liberia, at least 15 people are missing.
As the coast guard of the West African country announced on Sunday, the "Niko Ivanka" made an emergency call on Saturday afternoon because water had penetrated the interior of the ship.
According to the passenger list, 18 people were officially on board the freighter.
The Kenyan news portal reports that it is suspected, however, that the number is significantly higher. Eleven people were rescued by the emergency services, at least 15 to 17 others were missing. The environmental organization "Sea Shepherd" is helping the Liberian coast guard in the search for the missing.
According to the information, the ship left the port of the capital Monrovia on Saturday morning and headed for the city of Buchanan, about a hundred kilometers away. As announced by the head of the country's maritime authority, Eugene Lenn Nagbe, the ship was not approved for the carriage of passengers. The officially documented passengers, according to the nation, were the Swedish captain, a Chinese crew member and nine members of the West African Examination Board (WAEC). It had previously been arrested by the authorities because it was not considered seaworthy.