The captain of the boat that carried mourners from Azizanya to Azizakpe in the Volta Region and drowned them has been detained.

The boat that was carrying more than 40 people to a funeral in Azizakpe overturned because it was overloaded with people.

Five people were reportedly dead.

Assembly member of Azizakpe Electoral Area, Daniel Adzakpa said whereas the boat was to take about 25 people at a time, it had on board about 60 persons. He also attributed the disaster to stormy weather in the early hours of Saturday, March 18, 2023.

According to a 3news.com report, Gabriel Ajigodi who was sailing the boat at the time of the incident has been taken into custody at the Ada Foah Police Station where he is assisting with investigations.

Some survivors of the tragedy told TV3 that passengers, after realizing the situation prompted the sailor to return to the boarding point but he turned deaf ears to their pleas and insisted he would take them to their destination.

The incident is said to have happened in the middle of the journey. Mary Donuki, a survivor, lost her one-and-half-year baby.

Meanwhile, search efforts are still underway to find other survivors.