50 die in boat accident off Sierra Leone coastBy KEMO CHAM in Freetown | Thursday, July 12  2012 at  15:07

At least 50 people have been reported dead following a boat accident off Sierra Leonean coast.

According to Ibrahim Wurie, director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, bad weather was responsible for the capsizing of the boat over the weekend.

He said the boat was heading to Freetown from Conakry, Guinea and was carrying goods and passengers.

However, authorities on Guinean side put the figure at 30.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Mr Wurie insisted that 50 people had died in the accident and they had so far recovered two bodies.

There has been little information about the disaster.

Authorities in both countries are also not sure whether the accident occurred on Saturday or Sunday, news about the incident was only available on Wednesday.

Sea transportation has become a favourite alternative in a region faced with poor road network and high air fares.

Business people prefer the cheaper, but dangerous water routes.

Poor management of maritime administration, which has encouraged proliferation of sea unworthy boats, has been blamed for now frequent accidents.

An estimated 100 people died in 2009 when a boat packed with mostly school children capsized.