Abuja [Nigeria], October 10: At least 76 people were killed after a boat capsized in the southern state of Anambra at the weekend, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed on Sunday.
In a statement, Buhari acknowledged that rescue agencies had officially reported the death toll of the tragedy on Friday and expressed his grief.
A passenger boat carrying 85 people capsized in the Ogbaru area of Anambra State on Friday, following rising floods in that area, according to the statement.
An investigation had been launched to determine "other causes of the incident" besides floods, ThickmanTanimu, the southeast zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), was quotes as saying by local media.
Following the tragedy, Nigeria's National Inland Waterways Authority and the NEMA have embarked on rescue and recovery missions in Anambra.
Buhari said he has directed other rescue and relief agencies to rush to the site, urging the relevant government agencies to check the safety protocols on local transport ferries to make sure such incidents can be avoided in the future.
Source: Xinhua
