ABUJA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Local divers and volunteers have rescued 26 people, but many others remain missing after a passenger boat capsized Sunday afternoon in Nigeria's northern state of Sokoto, according to authorities.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which has been coordinating rescue efforts since the accident in the Goronyo Local Government Area, said in a statement late Monday that 16 additional survivors were found during the ongoing search.
The wooden boat, carrying at least 51 passengers along with goods and motorcycles, was heading to a local market in Goronyo when it overturned.
The rescue operation has been intensified as authorities race against time to locate more missing passengers. "We have also alerted neighboring communities to assist in the search for more victims," NEMA said in the statement.
In a separate statement released on Monday, the National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) said it impounded the ill-fated boat on the same day. At least seven motorcycles were also retrieved from the river during the search.
Muhammad Bala, area manager for the Sokoto Area Office of NIWA, attributed the accident to "wind and overloading," citing the agency's preliminary investigation.
The official urged boat and canoe operators to strictly adhere to safety guidelines to prevent future tragedies.
Boat accidents are frequent in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, poor safety practices, and adverse weather conditions. ■