October 8, (THEWILL) – At least 30 people have been declared missing after a boat carrying about 85 people capsized in Umunnankwo community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Although some accounts said that 76 people were yet to be seen, eyewitnesses said that only about 30 people were yet to be accounted for. They said that a search for others was still ongoing.
Former representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Afam Ogene, in a statement, said that the incident happened on Friday, and that eyewitnesses told him that the ill-fated boat had about 85 persons on board.
He said that the victims took off from Onukwu Bridge and were heading to Nkwo Market in Ogbakuba community, before their boat capsized; adding that unofficial reports indicated that between 20 and 30 persons were yet to be accounted for.
Ogene said he was devastated by the horrific accident and called on the state government and other relevant authorities to come to the aid of the people.
He said: “This sad news of this terrible accident is numbing and painful to me as a person and must be very devastating, especially to the immediate families of the victims. This is a collective loss for Ogbaru as a whole and we are united in sorrow.
“My condolences go to the affected families and also Ogbaru people and communities, who have in recent times found themselves in the jaws of severe flood disaster that has practically submerged all our communities and displaced thousands of people.”
At the moment, many communities in Ogbaru LGA have been submerged by the floodwater and many roads and bridges have reportedly been damaged by it.
In an earlier statement, Ogene, listed Ogwu Ikpele, Akili Ogidi, Obeagwe, Ossomala, Ogwuaniocha, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, Ochuche, Umuzu, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ohita and Odekpe as communities affected by the flooding. Others include Amiyi, Iyiowa, Ogbeukwu, Okoti and parts of Okpoko.
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