2 survivors in Nigeria boat wreck
2013-03-20 14:13
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Nigeria
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Lagos - A boat that capsized off southern Nigeria in recent
days was carrying an estimated 128 passengers and only two survivors have been
found so far, an emergency official said on Wednesday.
"One hundred twenty-eight people were suspected to be
aboard the boat, but only nine bodies have been recovered, while there were two
survivors so far," Yushau Shuaib, spokesperson for the National Emergency
Management Agency, told AFP.
"The incident happened about two or three days ago, but
there is still some confusion as to the origin of the boat."
The accident occurred some 40 miles off the coast of the
southern Nigerian city of Calabar, Shuaib said. There were indications that the
boat had originated from the Congo, but that has not been confirmed, he said.
He did not have further details.
A rescue source speaking on condition of anonymity said
initial indications were that the two survivors were Togolese.
Such accidents occur regularly in parts of Africa, with
rickety boats often overloaded with passengers and few reliable records of who
was aboard.
