ABUJA: At least 10 people have died and 60 others are missing after a boat sank in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria, officials said on Saturday.
The ship, with 85 people on board, capsized amid heavy flooding, trapping passengers, Thickman Tanimu, area coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agencytold Reuters.
Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo said in a statement that 10 people had drowned. The head of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency said 15 people were rescued on Saturday night.
The incident occurred between 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) and Friday noon, the agency said.
Resident of the region and former head of local government Afam gene said the boat’s engine failed and was overpowered by waves shortly after launch.
“It’s a locally made boat that can carry over a hundred people, unfortunately its engine failed and there was a scramble,” Ogene said.
Tanimu said a military disaster response unit from the Nigerian army was assisting in the search efforts.
Anambra is among 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states to experience heavy flooding this year. The waters washed away homes, crops and roads and affected at least half a million people.
Ogene said the floods destroyed the main road linking the eight communities to the rest of the Ogbaru local government area, forcing residents to travel by boat.
Farmers say rising waters will drive up food bills in a country where millions have fallen into food poverty over the past two years.
The ship, with 85 people on board, capsized amid heavy flooding, trapping passengers, Thickman Tanimu, area coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agencytold Reuters.
Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo said in a statement that 10 people had drowned. The head of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency said 15 people were rescued on Saturday night.
The incident occurred between 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) and Friday noon, the agency said.
Resident of the region and former head of local government Afam gene said the boat’s engine failed and was overpowered by waves shortly after launch.
“It’s a locally made boat that can carry over a hundred people, unfortunately its engine failed and there was a scramble,” Ogene said.
Tanimu said a military disaster response unit from the Nigerian army was assisting in the search efforts.
Anambra is among 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states to experience heavy flooding this year. The waters washed away homes, crops and roads and affected at least half a million people.
Ogene said the floods destroyed the main road linking the eight communities to the rest of the Ogbaru local government area, forcing residents to travel by boat.
Farmers say rising waters will drive up food bills in a country where millions have fallen into food poverty over the past two years.
