76 people died in boat sinking in Nigeria

76 people have died after a boat capsized in Nigeria's southeastern Anambra state. On Monday (October 10), the BBC reported that the boat sank on Friday (October 7) with 80 passengers on board.

Most of the dead were women and children. They were on their way to safety by boat after flooding occurred in Okbaru area of ​​Anambra State.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief over the tragic incident. Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo also condoled with the families of the deceased.

National Emergency Management Agency zonal coordinator Thikman Tanimu told AFP news agency that rescue operations had to accelerate due to high water levels.

Afam Ogen, a former local government leader, said the boat was hit by waves shortly after the engine was started. The capacity of the locally made boats was low. The accident happened due to engine failure.

This year, 29 of Nigeria's 36 states, including Anambra, witnessed floods. The flood waters have already washed away numerous houses and large quantities of crops, affecting at least 5 lakh people.