Blni:Three young people tragically drowned in the village of Blni, within the Sindo commune, on Friday, September 11, 2026, as they attempted to transport eleven bags of fertilizer to N'Dana in the Samorogouan commune.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the incident was reported by Salfo Dayamba, president of the special delegation of the Sindo commune. The young men were using canoes to cross the stream when the tragedy occurred around 2:00 PM. A search effort by local residents that evening proved unsuccessful.
The search operation resumed on the morning of Saturday, September 12, 2026. By 10:00 a.m., the three canoes and the eleven bags of fertilizer were recovered from the water. The bodies of the three young men were subsequently found and brought to shore.
Upon learning of the incident, Dayamba reported it to higher authorities. The prosecutor of Faso at the High Court of Orodara instructed that the head nurse of the Blni post conduct usual observations before the bodies were handed over to the families for burial.
The owner of the fertilizer, Timoko Traor, stated that he expected the merchandise to be delivered to a buyer in N'Dana. Since the usual smuggler was unavailable, the three young men volunteered, claiming familiarity with the route. Concerns arose when the buyer reported the delivery had not arrived, prompting the search.
Moussa Dao, president of the Blni Village Development Council, notified the authorities as soon as he heard of the disappearance. The exact circumstances remain unclear due to a lack of witnesses, but Dao noted the crossing is particularly challenging during high water levels.
The victims, aged 22, 22, and 16, were farmers. One of them leaves behind a pregnant wife. Adama Traor, father of one victim, expressed his sorrow, mentioning that his son, though able to swim, was not comfortable in canoes.
The incident has deeply affected the communities of Blni, N'Dana, and Sokoro. The Sindo District Health Service has urged residents to be cautious when crossing waterways during this period of high water levels.