Lagos — Nearly everybody on board a ship died when it capsized in a flood-swollen river in Nigeria's Anambra state, President Muhammadu Buhari mentioned on Sunday. An estimated 85 individuals have been taking the overloaded boat on Friday when flooding of the Niger River prompted it to tip over.
"The boat reportedly carrying 85 individuals capsized following rising floods in Ogbaru space of the state, with emergency companies confirming a dying toll of 76," Buhari's workplace quoted him as saying.
He directed the emergency companies to offer aid to the victims.
"I pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for everybody's security, in addition to the well-being of the members of the family of the victims of this tragic accident," he added.
Earlier on Sunday, the emergency companies mentioned rising water stage was hampering rescue efforts.
"The water stage could be very excessive and too dangerous for a clean search and rescue operation," Thickman Tanimu, the southeast coordinator of the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company (NEMA) instructed AFP.
He mentioned the flooding was the worst the nation has seen in years, with the water stage round one-tenth greater than a decade in the past.
NEMA requested the Nigerian Air Power present helicopters for the rescue operation.
Anambra state governor Charles Soludo urged residents of flood-ravaged areas to relocate, whereas including that the federal government would supply aid to these affected by the catastrophe.
"This improvement remains to be a shock to the federal government and good individuals of Anambra State. I sympathize with the households of individuals concerned," Soludo mentioned in an announcement.
Boat accidents happen repeatedly in Nigeria due to overloading, rushing, poor upkeep and disregarding navigation guidelines.
Because the begin of the wet season, many areas of the West African nation of greater than 200 million individuals have been devastated by floods.
Greater than 300 individuals have been killed and at the very least 100,000 made homeless, in line with the emergency companies.
The continual rain has washed away farmland and crops, sparking fears of meals shortages, famine and starvation in a rustic already fighting the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the struggle in Ukraine.