Thirteen persons have been rescued while two others remain missing following a boat accident which occurred on Monday at Imore, Lagos.
In a statement published by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Tuesday, the regulator disclosed that the incident occurred at approximately 6:45pm yesterday.
While the inland waterway regulator maintained that search and rescue operations are on going, five of the rescued victims are currently hospitalized following the ghastly accident.
Giving details of the accident, the Lagos NIWA Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah noted that a fiber boat carrying 13 passengers, along with a deckhand, captain, and cargo, was enroute from Ebute Ero to Badagry when it collided with a wooden boat.
“The wooden boat had just departed from Imore jetty, transporting passengers to Imore waterside.
“Upon investigation, it was found that the wooden boat had barely left the jetty when the fiber boat veered off its course. The collision was attributed to the fiber boat captain’s obstructed vision, likely caused by the boat’s load.
“Of the 15 passengers believed to be aboard the wooden boat (as no passenger manifest was filled), 13 were rescued, with 5 sustaining injuries and currently receiving treatment at a hospital. However, 2 passengers remain missing as of this report,” the NIWA statement read.
