The deceased, identified as Abuk Madhieu Deng, had gone to a nearby river where her husband was fishing. According to police, she drowned on her way back home between Ayi-Amuol and Abu Juec villages.
Twic County Police Inspector, Geng Mayen Geng, said the incident shocked the community, especially because the victim was a mother of a three-month-old baby.
“What occurred on Sunday is that the mother of a three-month-old baby collapsed in the river while returning home and, unfortunately, drowned,” Geng explained.
“People later found her body floating in the water and retrieved it before taking it back to her home, where she had left her infant,” he added.
The officer added that the victim had reportedly been suffering from epilepsy for a long time, which might have caused her to collapse suddenly while walking near the water. He further explained that her husband, who lives along the riverbank, was occupied with fishing at the time of the tragedy.
Inspector Geng urged local residents to be cautious, warning that many parts of Twic County are now flooded, increasing the risk of drowning. He also appealed to the public to avoid drinking alcohol and attempting to walk in flooded or fast-moving waters.
He called on families to pay close attention to relatives suffering from chronic illnesses, such as epilepsy, stressing the importance of not leaving vulnerable individuals unattended.
“This incident is a painful reminder of how quickly life can be lost in water accidents,” he noted.
Reports of drowning have become common in Warrap and neighbouring states. Last month, in Aweil North County, a man was discovered dead in a river, and authorities had to organise a retrieval before handing the body over to his family.
Local leaders say such tragedies highlight the need for greater awareness on water safety, especially during the rainy season when rivers and streams are swollen and dangerous.
