Lagos [Nigeria], January 5: At least 25 people were killed in a boat accident in northern Nigeria, authorities said on Sunday.
A wooden canoe carrying 52 passengers capsized on Saturday evening in Yobe state, the local emergency services said. Thirteen people were rescued alive, while 14 others are missing. Search and rescue operations were continuing.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Authorities said it was unknown whether the boat was overloaded or had encountered bad weather.
Deadly boat accidents are common in rural parts of Africa, where poor infrastructure leaves small vessels as the primary means of transport.
Such incidents are frequent in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, where boats on rivers and lakes are often overcrowded and poorly maintained.
Source: Qatar Tribune
