March 02, (THEWILL) — At least 12 persons have been rescued after a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, sank in stormy waters off the coast of South Africa late Saturday night.
The vessel, which had 18 persons on board, was said to have been in South Africa for repairs before departing for Lagos. It reportedly ran aground about 18 nautical miles offshore between Cape Town and Durban while en route to Nigeria.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that one crew member had been confirmed dead, while search and rescue operations were ongoing for the remaining missing persons.
In a statement issued by her media aide, Magnus Eze, the minister said Nigerian authorities were formally notified of the maritime accident by South Africa’s Ministry of Transportation.
She further revealed that the South African Maritime Safety Authority had informed the Federal Government that the rescued crew members were being transported to Port Elizabeth for medical attention and further assessment.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa were en route to receive the survivors and provide necessary consular assistance.
The minister assured that the Federal Government was closely monitoring developments and maintaining active communication with South African authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of the affected Nigerians.
Rescue efforts were said to be continuing amid challenging weather conditions, with hopes that the remaining crew members would be located swiftly.
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