Five die, 20 missing as boats collide in Delta

At least five people have been confirmed dead, while 20 others remain missing after two speedboats collided along the waterways in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the tragic accident, which occurred on Monday evening, involved boats ferrying passengers returning from a burial ceremony.

Eyewitnesses attributed the fatal crash to poor visibility, adding that most of the passengers were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, on Wednesday, confirmed the accident, stating that six survivors with injuries had been rescued and were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Warri.

“This is a tragic accident, and we are working with marine units and local divers to locate the missing passengers,” Edafe said.

A resident, Emmanuel Okoro, who witnessed the incident, described the scene as chaotic.

“People were screaming for help. Some managed to swim to safety, but many others disappeared beneath the water,” he recounted.

Meanwhile, rescue efforts are ongoing as emergency responders and local volunteers continue searching for the missing victims.

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