One person was on Monday killed and 16 others were rescued after a passenger boat, TEMI 3 Global, capsized in Lagos.
The boat, which was heading to Ikorodu from Lagos Island, upturned around Adekunle Jetty in Yaba, when it hit a rock.
The collision with the rock was said to have caused a hole under the boat from where water filled in, causing it to capsize.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 16 of the 17 passengers were rescued alive.
NEMA’s southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, said one of the passengers unfortunately drowned and was recovered dead.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in a statement by Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, said that the boat departed CMS Ferry Terminal around 4.35p.m. en route Ikorodu Ferry Terminal.
Braimah said, “Fifteen minutes into the journey near Adekunle waterfront, the boat hit an underwater obstacle which broke the hull of the boat and this resulted to its capsize.
“There was immediate mobilisation to the site of incident by NIWA search and rescue team, LASWA, Marine Police, Fishermen and other boat operators leading to the rescue of 16 persons alive. One person died while on the way to the hospital.
“We sincerely condole with the family of the deceased and pray for the soul of the dead to rest in perfect peace.”
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