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