A boat carrying more than 50 people has capsized in the northern Nigerian state of Kano.
Police say 20 bodies have been recovered and seven people rescued so far following the accident on Tuesday evening.
Officials and residents told the BBC that the boat was carrying dozens of people from the village of Badau to the town of Bagwai, where they were due to attend an Islamic religious ceremony.
Many of the victims were pupils.
A police spokesperson in Kano state says a search and rescue operation is under way. Those rescued so far have been taken to a hospital for medical attention.
It’s not yet clear what caused the boat to capsize.
In Nigeria, such accidents are often blamed on overloading and poor maintenance of the boats as well as a lack of proper regulation by the authorities.
At least seven girls drowned when a boat overturned in neighbouring Jigawa state barely two weeks ago.
In May, more than 100 people died in Kebbi state in a similar accident.
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In other news: Death toll rises to 29 from Nigeria’s boat tragedy
Nigerian officials have confirmed that nine more bodies from the Tuesday boat tragedy have been recovered on Wednesday morning.
This brings the death toll to 29 so far.
The search and rescue operation is ongoing.
It involves the police, the fire service and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as local volunteers.
Hundreds of distraught parents and other relatives have gathered at the site.
Police at the location have told the BBC that the number of survivors rescued so far is still seven.
Victims of the boat accident were mostly Islamic school pupils – aged between six and 12 – travelling to a religious ceremony in the town of Bagwai.
Source: BBC
