Tragedy in Joal: Three dead and four injured in a pirogue fire at sea

The awakening was brutal this Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Joal. An explosion followed by a fire aboard a pirogue (a type of canoe) left three people drowning and four injured, according to Seneweb sources. Prosecutor Augustin Yakhar Faye, head of the Mbour prosecutor's office, was informed of the tragedy. The Joal territorial brigade, attached to the Mbour gendarmerie company, was alerted to a fire on a pirogue at sea, about 100 meters from Santhie 2 beach. The tragedy occurred around 5:00 a.m.

Two canoes practicing the so-called "carrynet" fishing method were to set sail for a trip out to sea, under the direction of the captain of the vessel. The first was to carry the net, while the second was to accommodate the fishermen.

Once the crew was aboard, the captain of the dugout canoe started the engine. According to his statement, it struck a weight, causing sparks that spread throughout the canoe. The captain immediately threw the jerrycans of gasoline overboard. However, one jerrycan lost its cap, and the fuel spilled into the boat.

The fire quickly spread throughout the pirogue. Some fishermen jumped into the water to save themselves, while others were engulfed by the flames before being rescued by their companions. Three survivors, swimming to get out of the water, ultimately drowned, exhausted by the ordeal. They were N. Diop (29 years old), B. Sow (30 years old), and B. Ndour (30 years old). They all resided in Joal.

The four injured are the captain of the pirogue, Y., 39, a resident of the Santhie 2 neighborhood in Joal; B. Hanne, 28, also from Santhie 2; A. Sall, 23, from the Ndiongue neighborhood of Joal; and A. Fall, 24, also from Joal. They were all taken to a hospital. The bodies were taken to the morgue at Grand Mbour Hospital by firefighters for autopsies. One pirogue was partially burned, along with more than twelve 60-liter jerrycans and six 60-horsepower outboard motors.