South African authorities have rescued 12 crew members from a Nigerian tug boat that sank in the country’s waters late Saturday night, while one fatality has been confirmed and five others remain unaccounted for.
The vessel, identified as LEO, was carrying 18 people when it ran aground in rough seas about 18 nautical miles offshore between Cape Town and Durban. It was reportedly returning to Lagos after undergoing repairs in South Africa.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed the development on Monday, citing information received from South African officials.
According to her, the South African Maritime Safety Authority confirmed that the rescued crew members are being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials from the Nigerian High Commission are heading to receive them.
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“The South African Ministry of Transportation informed us of this incident, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said. Authorities continue to comb the area in search of the five missing persons as investigations into the cause of the incident proceed.
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