TRAGIC: Another Boat Mishap Happens In Lagos

Tragedy struck on the Victoria Island area of Lagos State on Saturday evening after a commercial boat capsized.

According to reports of those that witnessed the tragic incident, at least one person has been confirmed dead, while eight others were rescued alive.

It was gathered that Saturday's mishap happened around 8pm after the boat hit an object in the water while passengers, mostly fun seekers, were said to be returning from the Ilasha Beach.


A rescue officer, who pleaded anonymity while speaking with PUNCH Metro said, “The fun seekers were coming from the Ilasha Beach when the boat capsized around Bonny Camp at about 8pm. There were nine people on board. We were able to rescue eight of them alive, but the ninth person, a lady, died.”


 * A file photo of boat accident in Lagos

The passengers were said to wear live jackets, and floated, making it easy for rescue officials to sight them.

It was informed that the only passenger who died in the mishap, who was identified as Claire, died because she sustained injuries to her head.

“The lady hit her head against something when the boat capsized and that was why she could not make it. She died while on the way to the hospital,” a source told newsmen.

Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manger of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, said the surviving victims were taken to the Lagos Island Hospital for treatment and were discharged after they were certified fit.

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Water Agency, Mr. Olayinka Marinho, while reacting to the unfortunate incident stated that the passengers travelled at an odd hour when the water conditions could be unpredictable.

“Ideally, people should not be travelling at night when it can be dangerous. That is why when things like this happen, we should know where to apportion the blame. The water current around that side can be turbulent and we need to be careful,” he stated.

It could be recalled that this is the third boat mishap in Lagos in less than three months after about a dozen people died in FESTAC, while nine others perished in April in the Oworonshoki area in the month of March.