KANO, Nigeria: At least 33 people drowned after an overloaded boat carrying traders from Niger capsized in northwest Nigeria, the National Emergency Management (NEMA) said on Friday.
They were traveling from Gaya in the Dosso region of southern Niger to Lolo, in the Baguda area of Kebbi state, when the accident happened on Wednesday morning.
NEMA coordinator Suleiman Mohammed Karim said the boat had a capacity of 70 passengers but survivors said 150 people and their goods were on board.
“Eighty-four passengers were rescued by Nigerian and Nigerien rescue officials and the assistance of local divers,” he told AFP.
“Thirty-three bodies were salvaged from the river while 23 are still missing.
“Having spent two days on the water, we presume they are all dead.”
Cross-border trade is common in the remote area, with traders mainly traveling to markets from Niger to Nigeria to buy and sell goods from grain to livestock.
Weather conditions at the time of the capsize were calm, despite the rainy season, which earlier this week saw the authorities in Niger warn about potential flooding.
“Rivers are full which makes boat mishaps more likely. But in this case, overloading was a factor,” said Karim.
Capsizes are a frequent occurence in Nigeria, where overcrowding is common and unscrupulous operators flout health and safety norms.
In August, 12 people were killed when a passenger boat capsized in the commercial hub of Lagos, in the country’s southwest.
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At least 33 dead in Nigeria boat capsize: emergency services
At least 33 dead in Nigeria boat capsize: emergency services
Swiss bar owner released on bail after deadly New Year’s fire, prompting outcry
- Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni calls decision ‘insult’ to victims’ families
- Victims’ families concerned about evidence disappearing
GENEVA: The owner of a Swiss bar that was engulfed in a deadly New Year’s Day fire was released from detention on bail on Friday, court authorities said, prompting anger and incomprehension from victims’ families and Italy’s prime minister.
Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica are under investigation for negligent homicide and other crimes linked to the blaze that killed 40 people and injured more than 100, many of them teenagers. Many of the survivors are still hospitalized with severe burns in hospitals across Europe.
Jacques Moretti was detained on January 9. His bail arrangements include a 200,000 Swiss franc ($253,485) payment and an order to report daily to a police station, the court said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the decision to release him “an affront to the memory of the victims of the New Year’s Eve tragedy and an insult to their families, who are suffering from the loss of their loved ones.”
“The Italian government will demand answers from the Swiss authorities about what happened,” she wrote on X. Six of the dead were Italian as were 10 of those injured.
Lawyers for the victims and their families also said they were struggling to understand the court order and said their clients were concerned about evidence disappearing.
“My clients note that once again no consideration has been given to the risk of collusion or the disappearance of evidence — a risk that greatly worries them and jeopardizes the integrity of the proceedings,” said Romain Jordan, a Swiss lawyer for over 20 families of victims.
The owners have both expressed grief over the tragedy and said they would cooperate with prosecutors.
“Jessica and Jacques Moretti will both continue to comply with all requests from the authorities,” their lawyers said in a written statement after the release order.
Prosecutors said they had interviewed the bar owners about safety issues and renovations of Le Constellation bar during two hearings that had each lasted more than 10 hours.
They had also ordered searches, secured evidence and seized assets, they added.
Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica are under investigation for negligent homicide and other crimes linked to the blaze that killed 40 people and injured more than 100, many of them teenagers. Many of the survivors are still hospitalized with severe burns in hospitals across Europe.
Jacques Moretti was detained on January 9. His bail arrangements include a 200,000 Swiss franc ($253,485) payment and an order to report daily to a police station, the court said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the decision to release him “an affront to the memory of the victims of the New Year’s Eve tragedy and an insult to their families, who are suffering from the loss of their loved ones.”
“The Italian government will demand answers from the Swiss authorities about what happened,” she wrote on X. Six of the dead were Italian as were 10 of those injured.
Lawyers for the victims and their families also said they were struggling to understand the court order and said their clients were concerned about evidence disappearing.
“My clients note that once again no consideration has been given to the risk of collusion or the disappearance of evidence — a risk that greatly worries them and jeopardizes the integrity of the proceedings,” said Romain Jordan, a Swiss lawyer for over 20 families of victims.
The owners have both expressed grief over the tragedy and said they would cooperate with prosecutors.
“Jessica and Jacques Moretti will both continue to comply with all requests from the authorities,” their lawyers said in a written statement after the release order.
Prosecutors said they had interviewed the bar owners about safety issues and renovations of Le Constellation bar during two hearings that had each lasted more than 10 hours.
They had also ordered searches, secured evidence and seized assets, they added.
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