ABUJA: An overloaded passenger boat flees floods in the southeast Nigeria capsized and 76 people were still missing days later and presumed dead, emergency officials said Monday.
Many women and children are among those trying to escape floodwaters in the Ogbaru council area of Anambra on Friday, Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency speak.
“85 of them packed into a single boat and the weight overpowered the boat,” said Godwin Thickman, head of regional emergency management. He said the boat could not move freely because it hit flooded trees and roofs. “It capsized and only nine people survived. The remaining 76 have not been found,” he said.
Nigeria is fighting the worst of it flood for a decade, caused mainly by the discharge of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon and irregular rainfall. More than 300 people have died this year due to flooding.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has called on rescue officials to do all they can to account for the missing passengers. However, rescue officials have not found any more survivors in the past two days, suggesting that the chances of survival for many of those missing are slim.
Many women and children are among those trying to escape floodwaters in the Ogbaru council area of Anambra on Friday, Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency speak.
“85 of them packed into a single boat and the weight overpowered the boat,” said Godwin Thickman, head of regional emergency management. He said the boat could not move freely because it hit flooded trees and roofs. “It capsized and only nine people survived. The remaining 76 have not been found,” he said.
Nigeria is fighting the worst of it flood for a decade, caused mainly by the discharge of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon and irregular rainfall. More than 300 people have died this year due to flooding.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has called on rescue officials to do all they can to account for the missing passengers. However, rescue officials have not found any more survivors in the past two days, suggesting that the chances of survival for many of those missing are slim.
