• Eleven people are reported missing after a hippo capsized a boat in Ivory Coast.
• Three survivors have been rescued, with ongoing search efforts for the missing.
• The incident occurred on the Sassandra River near Buyo.
• Hippos are known for causing fatal encounters with humans in the region.
• Local authorities express solidarity with the affected families.

Eleven people, including women and young children, have gone missing after a hippopotamus capsized their boat on the Sassandra River in southwestern Ivory Coast. The incident occurred on Friday while the boat was transporting 14 passengers near the town of Buyo, according to the country’s minister for national cohesion and solidarity, Myss Belmonde Dogo. In a statement on Facebook, she addressed the tragedy, noting that three people survived. “A search is ongoing in the hope of finding the missing victims,” she said, reflecting the community's distress over the event, according to SCMP, CBS News, and India Times.

The Sassandra River is home to a significant number of hippopotamuses, often seen as dangerous despite their seemingly docile nature. Past research indicates that hippos are frequently involved in fatal human-animal interactions in Ivory Coast. Estimates suggest there are about 500 hippos in the region's rivers, including the Sassandra and Bandama, which are known for causing accidents similar to this one. A 2022 study found hippos to be the species most commonly involved in incidents leading to human fatalities or injuries, according to SCMP, CBS News, and India Times.

The Ivory Coast has seen other similar incidents in the past, including a tragedy in April when several children drowned after a boat capsized in a lagoon. Such incidents are more common as handcrafted boats are frequently overloaded with passengers and goods while navigating the country's waterways. In the wake of this unfortunate event, local authorities are committed to continuing search operations for the missing as the community grapples with the emotional fallout, according to SCMP, CBS News, and India Times.