At least seven bodies have been recovered and 108 victims rescued from the passenger boat that capsized off the Cameroonian Island of Bakassi on Sunday.
Victims of the accident were said to be mostly women and children returning from holiday in Cross River to Cameroon.
Col Kinvy Nkande of the Cameroon Army Special Battalion Intervention made this known in a telephone interview with journalists in Calabar on Tuesday.
He said, “108 people have been rescued while seven bodies have been recovered. Divers are still searching for more victims.”
Earlier, a statement from the Cameroonian authorities said, “At least three people have died and dozens are believed to be missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Cameroon where search and rescue operations are still looking for survivors.
“Some 107 people have been rescued and eight others seriously wounded.
“Several bodies are believed to be stuck inside the wreck.”
Sources said the boat with over 100 passengers and crew members left the Terminal C of the Nigerian Ports Authority operated by Shoreline Logistics in Calabar for Cameroon on Sunday when it capsized in the Gulf of Guinea between Nimunda and Edina.
A spokesman for the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Sub-Lieutenant A. A. Amai, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Calabar.