A tragedy hit a family over the weekend as two siblings drown in a river canal in Pigi county, Jonglei State.
County local authorities confirmed the drowning of two young siblings; two girls aged six and three, drowned in a river canal in Wutliet Payam on Sunday morning at 10 AM.
According to Monykuer Lam Ayul, the Director of Information at the Commissioner’s Office, bystanders near the river attempted to chase the children away, but they still managed to access the water.
“We received the report and visited the site alongside the payam administrator, confirming that the two children were from the same family. Their mother is Nyaloor Laat, and their father is Monychol Maker. The incident has deeply shocked the community in Wutliet Payam,” Monykuer said.
He added that while the body of the three-year-old girl was recovered and laid to rest, the six-year-old remains missing.
“The community was devastated yesterday. People were deeply saddened, but we managed to retrieve and bury the younger child. However, one child is still unaccounted for,” he stated.
Monykuer urged parents to closely monitor their children and prevent them from going near the river to avoid similar tragedies.
He also noted that local authorities would implement measures to restrict young children from accessing the river.
In other developments, Monykuer reported that residents have begun returning to their homes following the subsiding of floodwaters in the area.
