Up to 76 people may have died when a boat capsized in southeastern Nigeria

Oct. 8 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Nigerian authorities fear that up to 76 people may have died when a ship capsized this past Friday in the Nigerian state of Ananbra, in the southeast of the country, given that only nine of the passengers have been rescued alive in the last 24 hours.

The event took place in the community of Umunnankwo, Ogbaru local government area, when the boat, with 85 people on board, left for a local market, reports the Nigerian newspaper ‘Premium Times’, before capsizing for reasons under research.

The incident has been confirmed this Saturday by the acting president of the local council, Pascal Aniegbuna, who has already advanced that the event has left “several dead”.

Aniegbuna has declared himself “shocked and saddened” by the event and conveyed his solidarity to the families of the deceased. “I have directed the relevant agencies to launch an investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the event,” he added.