Three people, comprising two males and a female, have reportedly died after drowning in a passenger boat that capsized along the Ibeshe-Ikorodu channel in Lagos State, News About Nigeria reports.
According to an eyewitness, the unfortunate incident occurred at about 7.30 pm after the boat suddenly developed a mechanical fault.
The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, who confirmed the incident, noted that eleven others were rescued alive, and have been taken to the Ibeshe Ferry Terminal for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased have been transferred to the state mortuary and await identification.
She stated that a distress call had been made to the agency, to which the team responded swiftly, dispersing water guards, and search and rescue teams, among others, to the scene.
“The agency responded to distress calls concerning a passenger boat that took off from Addax Jetty around 7 pm.
“On arrival, it was discovered that a passenger ferry boat named Oluwaseyifunmi carrying 14 people had capsized due to a suspected mechanical fault and was rapidly submerged following its departure from the aforementioned terminal.
“A combined team of water guards, the search and rescue team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, and agency responders were mobilised to the scene of the incident, leading to the rescue of 11 people alive who have been taken to Ibeshe Ferry Terminal for treatment.
“Three passengers were retrieved dead, and Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) has been tasked with transferring their bodies to state mortuary,” she stated.
