Nigerian Tugboat Tragedy In South Africa: Government Reacts

The South African government has reacted to an incident in which a Nigerian tugboat sank off the country’s coast late Saturday night.

The incident led to the confirmed death of one Nigerian and the rescue of 12 crew members.

According to the South African authorities five persons are still missing from the tugboat tragedy

The tugboat, identified as LEO, with 18 persons on board, had reportedly travelled to South Africa for repairs but ran aground about 18 nautical miles offshore.

The tragedy was amidst stormy waters between Cape Town and Durban while it was on its return voyage to Lagos.

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The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed on Monday that the South African Ministry of Transportation had formally notified Nigerian authorities of the incident.

In a statement issued in Abuja by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze, the minister said one fatality had been recorded, while search and rescue operations were ongoing for

“The South Africa Ministry of Transportation informed us of this development.

“The South African Maritime Safety Authority has also informed that survivors are presently being conveyed to Port Elizabeth, where officials from the Nigeria High Commission are on their way to receive them,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.

Further details on the tugboat tragedy are expected.