More bodies have been recovered following Friday’s boat mishap at Umunnakwo in Ogbaru Council Area.
The families of the victims and some survivors who waited for the arrival of recovered corpses could not contain their tears as they narrated their experiences to the ABS.
Mr Bernard Achonu from Isiala Mbano but resides in Mputu town who lost his wife and three children aged between two and six, said his family left in order to move to a safe place as the water has submerged almost all the communities but regretted that the engine boat capsized due to dangerous waves.
Others who lost family members including Messrs Kenneth Ezi, Mathew and Sabastine Umeorji, and Dominic Dala- Amuzie expressed grief and shock over the incident saying that mostly children and women died in the ill- fated boat.
The sailor of the ill- fated boat, Mr. Desmond Amaugo from Ogwuaniocha said the total number of persons on board were forty-eight and not eight-five as widely reported and narrated how the market women besieged his house and persuaded him to sail them to Ogbakuba but they couldn’t make it due to the water waves which knocked the boat against the pillars of Umunnakwo/Ossomala bridge against all efforts he made to stabilize the boat.
Ten bodies have been recovered.
All the houses, roads, and markets in the community are submerged while the villagers parked their farm produce and belongings along the flooded tarred road.
Source: ABS
