Hippo attack sinks boat, dozens of people missing

Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in the world.

CNN reported on May 17 that a baby died and 23 people were missing in Malawi when their boat capsized after being attacked by a hippo.

Police spokeswoman Agnes Zalakoma said the incident happened on the morning of May 15 when a boat carrying 37 people on the Shire River in the East African country was attacked by the animal. The 23 missing people are suspected to have drowned in the river, which is home to hippos and crocodiles.

"Thirteen people were rescued, while 23 are missing and the baby's body has been found," Zalakoma said in a statement.

The child who died was only one year old. Rescuers are continuing to search for the missing. Ms Zalakoma said the river crossing is dangerous and accidents often happen.

"The danger is that the riverbed is too shallow and there are crocodile attacks, as well as hippos, which cause incidents like the one we're dealing with," she said.

Villagers were crossing the Shire River to reach their farm on Malawi's border with Mozambique when their boat was attacked by a hippo, said Gladys Ganda, an official in Nsanje district.

The Shire River is often teeming with hippos and crocodiles.

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Hippos are one of the world's most dangerous animals and can use their powerful jaws to snap a canoe in half, according to National Geographic . They are found in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the eastern and southern parts of the continent.

Hippopotamus attacks are common in these areas. In December 2022, a 2-year-old boy was attacked by a hippo that swallowed half of him before spitting him out, according to Ugandan police. The child was rescued and survived.

Watch hippo show off his power and rescue wildebeest from crocodile's jaws

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