At least 25 killed in Nigeria when passenger boat capsizes

ABUJA, Nigeria/ISTANBUL

At least 25 people were killed when a passenger boat capsized on a river in the Niger state of Nigeria, media reports said Sunday.

The boat was carrying marketgoers from the Munya region and sank in the Shiroro area, leaving dozens missing, according to initial reports.

Authorities said search and rescue operations are ongoing, but warned that the number of casualties could increase.

Efforts are being made to locate and rescue the missing passengers, said an official, who did not provide the number onboard to reporters.

Boat accidents are frequent in Nigeria during the rainy season, particularly on rivers and lakes used for transport.