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Twenty feared dead as boats capsize near Lagos
09 Aug 2009 14:21:28 GMT
 Source: Reuters
LAGOS, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Five passengers drowned and 15 were missing and feared dead after two small boats sank in a creek near Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos, police said on Sunday.

One of the boats with 24 people on board was travelling from the Ikorodu district to Lagos Island when it started sinking on Saturday, police said.

A second boat with 11 people on board tried to rescue the first but the two vessels capsized as passengers from the distressed boat tried to scramble aboard the other.

"The marine police joined in the rescue mission and brought 15 people alive out of the water. Five were also brought out dead," Lagos police spokesman Frank Mba said.

"There are still 15 missing people and we have reached out to villagers along the creek to look out for floating bodies."

Nigerian waterways and roads are plagued by fatal accidents blamed on overloading, speeding and poorly maintained vehicles.

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com/ )

(Reporting by Tume Ahemba; Editing by Michael Roddy)


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Last updated:Sun Aug 9 14:23:57 2009