Nigerian Tugboat Capsizes Off South Africa, One Dead

On Saturday night, a Nigerian tugboat named Leo capsized off the South African coast, leading to a maritime tragedy. The vessel was reportedly traveling to South Africa for repairs when it encountered severe storm conditions approximately 18 nautical miles offshore between Cape Town and Durban.

Out of the 18 crew members onboard, one has been confirmed dead, five are missing, and 12 have been rescued. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, confirmed the incident on Monday and stated that South African authorities have formally notified the Nigerian government.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is leading the search and rescue operations. The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is providing consular support to the survivors and liaising with their families back home.

The unpredictable weather and the vessel's seaworthiness are under investigation as the search for the missing crew continues.