1 dead, search continues for 5 missing persons…
The South African Transportation authorities have confirmed the rescue of 12 persons from a Nigerian Tug boat that sank in their territory, late Saturday night.
The Tug boat named LEO with 18 persons on board came to South Africa for repairs but ran aground at 18 nautical miles offshore under stormy waters between Cape Town and Durban on its way back to Lagos.
Minister of State for Foreign Affair, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed Monday morning, that the South African Ministry of Transportation also said that one person has been confirmed dead, while five are missing.
According to the minister, the search efforts are ongoing. “The South Africa Ministry of Transportation informed us of this development”.
“The South Africa Maritime Safety Authority has also informed that survivors are presently being conveyed to Port Elizabeth, where officials from the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria are on their way to receive them,” the minister said.
A statement by the minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr Magnus Eze, said further details will be made available as they unfold.