A boat accident in Umunnankwo Community, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, southeast Nigeria, is thought to have killed 76 people.
The occurrence took place on Friday.
Before it capsized, the boat, which had departed from Onukwu Bridge and was traveling toward Nkwo Market in the council district of Ogbakuba Community.
Only nine of the 85 individuals on board were instantly rescued, it was discovered.
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The incident was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by Pascal Aniegbuna, the council district’s chair of the Transition Committee.
Aside from those who were saved, he stated that “a number of others, regrettably, lost their lives.”
The incident, according to Mr. Aniegbuna, “shocked and grieved” him.
He felt sorry for the surviving loved ones of the deceased.
“I have directed the relevant agencies to commence investigation on the immediate and remote cause of the event,” he said.
The chairperson advised boat drivers to ensure that necessary water and transportation gadgets are available before embarking on any journey.
“They should provide life jackets to their passengers and ensure that any person who refuses to put it on should not embark on the journey,” Mr Aniegbuna said.
How it took place
Paul Odenigbo, the executive secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), described what transpired.
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“There were 85 passengers traveling in the boat. So, about halfway through the trip, there was either an engine malfunction or something else that caused the boat to start sinking before hitting a bridge and capsizing, the narrator explained.
Nine people out of the 85 survived. The rest were not spotted, according to a SEMA representative.
