One dies, five missing as Nigerian tugboat sinks off South African coast

A Nigerian nationalist has been confirmed dormant pursuing the sinking of a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, successful South African waters connected Saturday night.

The vessel, which had 18 radical connected board, reportedly went down aft moving aground amid unsmooth upwind conditions. While 12 unit members were rescued, 5 others stay missing arsenic hunt and rescue efforts continue.

The Federal Government disclosed the incidental successful a connection issued by the Special Assistant connected Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Eze.

According to the statement, South African transport authorities alerted Nigerian officials aft the tugboat encountered difficulties astir 18 nautical miles disconnected the seashore betwixt Cape Town and Durban. The vas was said to beryllium en way to Lagos aft undergoing repairs successful South Africa erstwhile it ran aground nether stormy conditions.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, confirmed that 1 fatality has been recorded, portion 5 persons are inactive unaccounted for.

She further revealed that survivors are being transported to Port Elizabeth, wherever officials of the Nigerian High Commission are expected to person them and supply indispensable support.

The Federal Government said it is maintaining adjacent interaction with South African authorities arsenic efforts intensify to find the missing unit members. Maritime authoritie...