Six dead bodies have been recovered while seven people were rescued in the boat mishap which happened in Lagos on Friday night, it has been disclosed.
No fewer than 22 passengers were on board the boat which left Ebute-Ero Jetty to Ikorodu.
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It was gathered that the boat capsized around 8 pm on its way to Ikorodu jetty terminal.
Sources said the accident must have been caused by lightning occasioned by the heavy rainfall on Friday night.
“Despite several warnings to the operators to stop moving on the waterways at night, the boat took off under extremely bad weather conditions,” a source.
A combined team of rescue officers from the state emergency management agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Waterway Authority (LASWA), among others have been searching for victims since the incident happened.
Rescue efforts, however, continued on Saturday until evening when it was suspended.
So far, seven of the passengers were rescued alive, six dead bodies recovered while nine bodies are still missing, spokesman of LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor confirmed.
Those rescued are three males and four females while six dead adult females were confirmed dead.
“The search is still ongoing for the boat captain, his assistant and seven others that make up the 22 passengers in the boat instead of the 14 it should have ferried in compliance with COVID-19 social distancing protocol,” he said.
He added that recovery operation was suspended at about 18:20hrs, saying all other activities have been postponed till Sunday morning due to nightfall and the heavy downpour.
Meanwhile, LASWA disclosed that investigation is still ongoing on the incident even as it vowed to deal with all Ferry Operators and passengers violating the laid down rule of “No Night” travelling on the waterways.
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