At Least 10 Die As Boat Capsizes In Port Harcourt

At least 10 people died in Nigeria on Friday when a boat carrying 35
passengers bound for Port Harcourt capsized and sank, a rescue
official and local government spokesman said.

"We can confirm that 10 persons died early today when a Port
Harcourt-bound passenger boat sank," National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) co-ordinator Onimode Bandele told AFP.

"Rescue efforts are ongoing and the agency is already working with
other bodies and security agencies in the rescue efforts."

The chairman of Bonny local government council, Adonye Wilcox, also
confirmed the accident, which he said occurred at 7:45 am (0645 GMT).

"Information available... indicates that the boat hit an object on the
way and sank," he said.

"Local divers have rescued 17 persons, including four members of the
National Youth Service Corps, while 10 persons died as a result of the
accident".

A search was being conducted for the eight people unaccounted for, Wilcox added.

Boat accidents in Nigeria occur frequently and are often caused by
overloading, poor vessel maintainance, speeding and poor lighting.

AFP