A tragic incident in north-central Nigeria has led to fears of multiple casualties following the capsizing of a boat carrying over 300 passengers on the River Niger.
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The disaster occurred on Tuesday night, according to Abdullahi Baba Arah, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
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Local council chairman Abdullahi Muregi reported that approximately 60 bodies have been recovered from the site of the accident, while Arah confirmed that around 150 individuals have been successfully rescued.
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Many of those on board were women and children, travelling to participate in celebrations for the Muslim holiday of Mawlid.
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Mr Arah praised the "prompt response" from community volunteers, who have been attempting to rescue the passengers with "brave" local divers.
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The ill-fated boat was en route from a locality known as Mundi, with many passengers travelling to Gbajibo for Mawlid, which celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
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While Mr. Arah did not specify the reason behind the boat's capsizing, such incidents are unfortunately frequent on the River Niger, the third-longest river in Africa.
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This is especially true during the rainy season, when water levels rise significantly.
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The boats navigating this river are often old and heavily loaded, and obstacles like tree branches floating in the water can create hazardous conditions.
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In a similar incident in September of the previous year, at least 24 individuals lost their lives when a boat capsized in the same vicinity, while carrying over 50 passengers who were traveling to work on their farms.
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