An accident involving a boat that occurred in the state of Anambra in the south-eastern part of Nigeria is responsible for the deaths of at least 76 individuals.

On Friday, the boat, which was carrying at least 80 passengers, sank in the Ogbaru region of Anambra state.

After their neighbourhood was submerged by floodwater, most fatalities were women and children attempting to flee to a safer location.

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the “tragic” disaster.

In addition, he issued an order to review the safety measures that are now in place throughout the nation’s water transportation system. He stated that the emergency services must do all their power to account for those who are missing.

Mr Buhari issued a call to action to several government institutions, requesting that they “review the safety measures on these transport ships to ensure that such occurrences are prevented in the future.”

At the time, accounts from the regional media and individuals on board the boat said they were on their way to the Nkwo Market in Ogbakuba when the incident occurred. According to the statements of certain officials, the boat experienced an engine failure and collided with a bridge before capsizing.

“The water level is too high and too unsafe for a successful search and rescue operation,” said Thickman Tanimu, the southeast coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency.

The governor of Anambra, Charles Soludo, stated that the disaster had come as a surprise to both the state’s inhabitants and the state’s administration.

Accidents involving boats are not uncommon in Nigeria; nonetheless, most of them may be attributed to either overloading or a lack of adequate safety precautions.