Three individuals are feared dead following an emergency response by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to a distress call regarding a passenger boat mishap. The incident unfolded when a 14-seater passenger boat, identified as Oluwaseyifunmi, encountered trouble shortly after departing from Addax Jetty around 7pm.
Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, revealed that upon arrival at the scene, emergency responders found the ferry submerged due to a suspected mechanical fault. Despite swift action from a combined team of water guards, the search and rescue unit of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), and agency responders, the tragedy claimed the lives of three passengers.
Of the 14 individuals onboard, 11 were successfully rescued and taken to safety at Ibeshe Ferry Terminal. The bodies of the deceased have been entrusted to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for appropriate handling.
An ongoing investigation spearheaded by LASWA aims to determine the root cause of the accident, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking incident.