19 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan

Nineteen people were killed yesterday when a small plane crashed into a lake in the centre of South Sudan, while four survived, a regional official told AFP. Regional information minister for the Eastern Lakes state Taban Abel Aguek said a plane, carrying 23 people, had crashed in the central town of Yirol as it came into land.

“The number of people we have confirmed dead is 19 people and four people survived,” said Abel, adding that two children were among the survivors as was an Italian citizen. He said the Anglican Bishop of Yirol, Simon Adut, was confirmed among the dead. The pilot and co-pilot, a staff member with the International Committee of the Red Cross, a Ugandan who runs a private clinic in Yirol, a government official and two army officers were also confirmed dead.

“The whole town is in shock, the shops are closed, some people have taken their relatives for burial. It is a commercial plane that crashed,” Abel told AFP.