ASABA: At least five individuals have tragically lost their lives, while 20 others remain missing after two boats collided head-on in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, according to report on Wednesday.
The heartbreaking incident, which occurred on Monday evening, involved speedboats carrying passengers returning from a burial ceremony. Eyewitnesses indicated that poor visibility on the waterways was a major factor contributing to the collision, leading to the devastating accident.
A local who spoke to our correspondent, requesting to remain anonymous, explained the cause of the accident, saying, It was a truly unfortunate incident. Two speedboats carrying people who had attended a burial ceremony collided. The poor visibility on the waterway played a crucial role in this tragic head-on crash.
Reports further revealed that most of the passengers were not wearing life jackets at the time of the collision, which likely contributed to the severity of the accident.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, stating that six survivors, who sustained injuries, were rescued and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Warri. He added, “This is a tragic accident, and we are working with marine units and local divers to locate the missing passengers.”
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Emmanuel Okoro, a resident who witnessed the scene, described the situation as “chaotic.” He recalled the harrowing moments, saying, “People were screaming for help. Some managed to swim ashore, but many others disappeared beneath the water.
Rescue operations are still ongoing, as both local authorities and volunteers continue to search for the missing victims. The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) was contacted for a statement, but no response was received at the time of this report.
The local community and authorities are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals and provide support to those affected by the tragedy.
