Over 20 Persons Feared D£ad As Boat Carrying Nigerian Passengers S!nks On Cameroonian Waters
Over 20 Persons Feared Dead As Boat Carrying Nigerian Passengers Sinks On Cameroonian Waters
Residents familiar with the route said the boat operators ignored repeated warnings from locals who advised them to delay the journey until daylight because of worsening weather conditions.
More than 20 people are feared dead after a passenger boat carrying mostly Nigerians capsized in Cameroonian territorial waters while travelling to Adamawa State.
The tragic incident occurred late Monday night when the overloaded vessel, travelling from Garoua in northern Cameroon to Yola, was caught in a violent storm and overturned.
Local sources told SaharaReporters that the boat was carrying more than 50 passengers alongside iron rods and other building materials destined for Dasin community in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Residents familiar with the route said the boat operators ignored repeated warnings from locals who advised them to delay the journey until daylight because of worsening weather conditions.
“The weather was bad, and people pleaded with them not to leave that night, but they insisted on sailing,” a resident said.
According to eyewitnesses, the boat ran into a powerful storm around midnight, causing it to capsize. Although early reports suggested that more than 30 people may have drowned, local authorities have so far confirmed at least 20 deaths, with fears that the toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
Sources said the accident occurred about 120 nautical miles along the Nigeria-Cameroon border corridor.
By Tuesday, the bodies of 18 victims had been recovered and buried in Wuro Bokki community in Fufore Local Government Area, while search teams continued combing the waters for those still missing.
Rescue efforts involving divers and emergency responders from both Nigeria and Cameroon remained ongoing. Several survivors were rescued and are receiving treatment at hospitals in border communities on both sides of the international boundary.
Authorities in both countries have yet to issue a detailed official statement on the disaster. Investigations into the cause of the deadly boat mishap are expected to begin as search and recovery operations continue.
