Nigeria: At Least 76 People Killed In Boat Accident Trying To Flee Floodwater In Anambra

In the southern Nigerian state of Anambra, a boat disaster has claimed at least 76 lives.

The boat capsized on Friday in the Ogbaru region of Anambra state while transporting at least 80 persons.

The majority of casualties were women and children who were trying to flee their neighbourhood after it had been swamped by floodwater.

Benard Achonu expressed his devastation, saying, "My life has come apart."

The 60-year-old man lost his three children, who ranged in age from two to six, as well as his wife.

They were among those who fled the area's flooding, he claimed.

Precious Umeh, another former resident said that the situation was terrible. "Because there is no dry ground nearby, several families whose family members were killed in the boat tragedy are unsure how to bury the dead."

In the wake of the tragic disaster, President Muhammadu Buhari sent his sympathies to the families of the dead.

Additionally, he mandated a review of safety protocols for the nation's water transportation network and stated that emergency services must take all necessary steps to locate the missing.

In order to ensure that such occurrences are prevented in the future, Mr Buhari urged government officials to "examine the safety measures on these transport ferries."

According to local media accounts, the boat's passengers were travelling to Ogbakuba's Nkwo market when it sank.

Some officials also say the boat experienced an engine failure, struck a bridge, and capsized.

The National Emergency Management Agency's south-east coordinator, Thickman Tanimu, revealed that the water level is too high and dangerous for a successful search and rescue effort.

The governor of Anambra, Charles Soludo, stated that the incident had shocked both locals and the state's administration and sent his condolences to the families of the deceased.

In Nigeria, boat accidents are rather frequent, however, the majority are attributed to overloading or lax safety protocols.