LAGOS: According to President Muhammadu Buhari, almost everyone on board a boat died after it crashed in a flood-inundated river in Nigeria. On Friday, the overloaded boat capsized while carrying 85 passengers as a result of floods in the Niger River.
Buhari’s office quoted him as stating, “The boat purportedly carrying 85 people crashed following increasing floods in the Ogbaru area of the state, with emergency services reporting a death toll of 76.”
He gave the emergency services instructions to assist the victims. I pray for everyone’s safety, the eternal rest of the departed, and the welfare of the loved ones of those who perished in this awful event, he continued.On Sunday morning, the emergency services reported that the rising water level was impeding rescue operations.
The National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) southeast coordinator, Thickman Tanimu, stated that the water level was “extremely high and very unsafe for a smooth search and rescue effort.”With the water level being about one-tenth greater than a decade ago, he claimed that the flooding was the worst the nation had seen in years.
Helicopters were sought by NEMA from the Nigerian Air Force for the rescue effort.Governor of Anambra State Charles Soludo urged people to leave flood-damaged areas and promised that the government would help those who had been impacted by the calamity.
“The Anambra State administration and its fine citizens are still in shock over this development. I am sorry for the families of those who were affected “in a statement, Soludo.Because of overloading, velocity, poor maintenance, and contempt for navigational rules, boat accidents happen often in Nigeria.
The nation of more than 200 million people in West Africa has seen widespread flooding since the beginning of the rainy season.
