By Camillus Eboh and Hamza Ibrahim
ABUJA -At the least 10 folks have died and one other 60 are lacking after a ship capsized in Nigeria’s southeastern Anambra state, officers stated on Saturday.
The vessel, with 85 folks on board, capsized amid heavy flooding, trapping the passengers, Thickman Tanimu, zonal coordinator for the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company, instructed Reuters.
Anambra state Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo stated in a press release that 10 folks had drowned. The pinnacle of Anambra State Emergency Administration Company stated 15 folks had been rescued as of Saturday night.
The incident occurred between 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) and midday on Friday, the company stated.
Space resident and former native authorities chief Afam Ogene stated the boat’s engine failed and it was overpowered by waves shortly after it launched.
“It's a regionally made boat that may take greater than hundred folks, sadly its engine failed and there was a stampede,” Ogene stated.
Tanimu stated a navy catastrophe response unit from the Nigerian military was aiding the search effort.
Anambra is among the many 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states to have skilled heavy flooding this yr. The waters have washed away houses, crops and roads and impacted at the very least half 1,000,000 folks.
Ogene stated flooding had destroyed the foremost street linking the eight communities to the remainder of the Ogbaru native authorities space, forcing residents to journey by boat.
Farmers say the rising waters will push meals payments greater in a nation the place tens of millions have fallen into meals poverty prior to now two years.
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