At least 32 people, including women and children, died when a boat with 40 passengers capsized in Gummi town, Gummi local government area of Zamfara state, on Saturday.
A resident of Gummi, Safiyanu Dan Iya, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred after an overloaded boat collided with an empty boat on Mashayar Yan Tauri River.
Dan Iya explained that the captain of the empty boat was trying to reduce some passengers from the overloaded boat when suddenly the boats collided, hence, the overloaded boat capsized and sank in the river.
Daily Trust learnt that the tragedy is the second incident that happened in the area. Five years ago, a boat carrying passengers capsized in the same river but no casualty was recorded.
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Another resident, Shehu Aminu Gummi, said only a few passengers were rescued, while the rest got missing in the river.
“After the boat capsized and sank in the river, it took the survivors almost two hours before they appeared on the surface of the water. The boat capsized around 10am and the survivors appeared around 12 mid-day.
“Although the rescue efforts continued up till 8pm, no additional person among the victims was found dead or alive.”
Also speaking, the Sarkin Fadar Gummi, Alhaji Mahmud S. Fada, confirmed that eight people were rescued, saying, “Apart from them, we have not seen anybody again.
“Up till this time that I am speaking with you, no corpse has been discovered from the river.”
He said though some rescue teams were sent to other rivers in Gayari, Dugwai and Bandoki villages, yet, no corpse was found.
He explained that the Sarkin Ruwa of Gummi has ordered that the rescue be put on hold, as according to him, the bodies of the victims could only resurface by Sunday.
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